I notice Rural and Urban Music Education being grouped together at multiple conferences along with the assertion that they share a lot of the same challenges. Other than higher levels of poverty than suburban areas, I’m not sure I would agree that there are significant similarities. Does it really benefit rural music students and teachers to have their unique concerns grouped with urban concerns? Given the propensity of music education researchers to be interested in urban issues due to the typical location of large research universities in large cities, maybe grouping urban with rural serves to mask the needs of the latter.
Monday September 6th 2010
Vince, I think your entries are important contributions to our–at times–generalized thinking about our own situations. I wonder how we can get some empirical backing of those who, like you, work in school situations many of us do not know about. Any suggestions of how we can reach “other-minded” music educators and include them in the dialogue?
I have begun chatting with folks around the country who teach in small rural schools. I can invite them to participate here as well. It’s great to hear from you . . .