At the beginning of a new school year, I am reminded that living in Appalachia has its obvious advantages, such as the sheer beauty of our surroundings as the leaves turn. However, I am also intensely aware of the daunting challenges of education in Appalachia. Progress, in spite of exclusion and lack of funding, can often seem unachievable.
Throughout my years as an educator in the South, I witnessed firsthand many injustices and discrimination based on race. Here in this region, I’ve seen the same treatment of economically disadvantaged parents and their children. In some minds, the Appalachian culture is the last group that is socially acceptable to mock. A disturbing difference in this discrimination lies in the way the people living in this region themselves also poke fun at one another for being poor and undervalued. Through seemingly harmless jokes, we are perpetuating the idea that we don’t have the same right to quality education and, therefore, are not worthy of the same opportunities to achieve.
I argue that until the Appalachian community changes its discourse and dialogue, our children will continue to grow up believing that they are neither as bright nor as capable as everyone else. How can we expect others to treat our children as equal if we don’t ourselves reinforce that we and they are?
As a community, we need to stop supporting negative stereotypes amongst ourselves first. Only if we no longer accept this discrimination can we logically cease accepting it from other people. If it is true that the Appalachian culture is the last group that it is socially acceptable to ridicule, let’s make it truly the last. This harmful discourse starts with us, so let’s end it now. Instead, let’s talk about growing our respect and appreciation for diversity, our community and education for all.
Renée A. Middleton is the dean of Ohio University’s Patton College of Education.
