Education

Rural Education

October 01, 2003 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Out of Print

When the doors were locked this past summer at Bibb Graves High School in Millerville, Ala., the little community 65 miles southeast of Birmingham lost more than a campus where generations went to school. It lost the local newspaper.

The Community Connection, written, edited, and delivered by the journalism class at Bibb Graves, published its final edition in June.

The newspaper was part of a University of Alabama program that helped start or bring back newspapers in rural areas. The paper at Bibb Graves had just won a state award for its reporting, and it had covered the debate that eventually ended with the demise of the 330- student, K-12 campus. (“Making the Connection,” Dec. 11, 2002.)

The Clay County school board decided to shut down Bibb Graves in a series of back-and-forth votes during the past year. In June, a federal court upheld the closing, much to the chagrin of journalism teacher Pamela Horn and some Bibb Graves students, who rode buses to Birmingham to protest the court’s action. Another school, Mellow Valley High, also was closed by the district.

The county superintendent said the closings would save money and strengthen academic offerings at the area’s two remaining high schools. But a private Christian school has opened at Mellow Valley, taking about 200 students from the public schools. That exodus could cost the district $2 million in lost enrollment-based aid from the state.

Now teaching journalism at Clay County High School in Ashland, Ala., Ms. Horn has helped start The Paw Print, a newspaper that focuses on her new school rather than on the community at large.

Ms. Horn said she finds inspiration in students such as Brodrick Thomas, a junior who followed her to Clay County High from Bibb Graves. He recently wrote a moving essay about their old school. By keeping up with students from that school, Ms. Horn tries to contain the hurt associated with the closing of Bibb Graves—and its newspaper. The students “are my saving grace,” she said.

Alan Richard

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz News Quiz: Feb. 6, 2025: Reading Scores | Curriculum | Trump 'Indoctrination' Order | and More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of books on a shelf.
Illustration by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read