principalspart2

Quote Continuations

Question 1: What does the word Appalachia mean to you when you hear it or read it?

Question 3: What are your thoughts about incorporating Appalachian culture in the classroom?

Question 2: Please identify three characteristics of Appalachian culture.

Question 4: Do you think the SOLs impact opportunities for place based education?

East Mont: From growing up in West VA, my take on it is a little different because if there is a focus on Appalachian history, it is taken on during middle school. They covered West VA history, mountain ranges and cultures even extending outside of WV. It kind of encompassed the whole Appalachian Trail. It encompassed the culture throughout the area. In this way, it might be a little different from classes today.

East Mont: The means of expression through art, such as the folk music, are unique to Appalachia. Also their daily living, as far as the structures pertaining more to the land and what they have to do depending on where they live in the mountain ranges.

East Mont: I believe the SOLs, as well as any other accountability standard, impacts it however you allow it to impact it. We are going to have it impact us positively.. With SOLs you get the score each year and you have to bridge the gap. We want to have teachers evaluate themselves and students daily, and then that’s when the SOLs become part of the evaluation problem.

East Mont: At the High School level I think it is effective, but one of the things I have to do is remember that everything we do has a bearing on something else. One of the relevant things we have to do is let students know what is in our area, so we have to understand our culture. And, all of this will affect the job market in our area. Because most of them are staying nearby, we want them to know the area and the opportunities out there.

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