I’ve grown up in a tiny town. The only reason we ever see people is because we are in the middle of multiple bigger towns. However, a few years back, our school managed to rank number seven in the state of Kentucky. As such, we’ve seen more and more new enrollments. It wasn’t a fluke either. Despite Kentucky’s changing the ranking system so as to remove the competitive element, we have continued to rank high among the other schools.

At our school, we are blessed to have a low population. Thanks to the low population, we experience amazing teacher-student relationships and small class sizes. Teachers tailor their classrooms and lessons to the students and find ways to make sure every student succeeds. The students can also come to the teachers about their issues and ask them specifically for help. The Board of Education even says that is one of the best things about our school.

So when I’m asked about my community’s approach to education, I have to say how great it is. Sure, it’s not the best in the world, but it’s an approach that means something. We live in a world where education is devalued and schools find themselves underfunded or without assistance. Teachers are taught to not care, and students eventually stop caring, too. However, my school, despite once being the worst in the state, managed to rise above, and push its way into the top 10 because our teachers cared. They pushed us and helped us strive for greatness. A crucial part of learning is the connection between student and teacher. If the teacher cares, then the student will care too. I likely wouldn’t have been the best student I could have been if it weren’t for teachers who pushed us to our best and beyond.

I believe that approaches such as this benefit everyone: teachers, students, and the community that surrounds the school. Not only that, but this kind of educational approach subtly changes people. It makes them care and it makes them understand. Understanding is something that is lacking nowadays, and there is no better way to fix that than to instill the upcoming generation with the ability and power to understand and learn.