Participation Type
Paper
Session Title
Session 4.03 Education
Presentation #1 Title
Miners and Mentors: Memory and Experiences in Coal Camp Schools in Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Appalachian educational history is as diverse as its mountains and music. As the number of the living students and teachers who taught and learned in coal camp schools dwindle over the years, their memories and experiences will also fade with them, if not preserved for future generations. I interviewed my grandmother, who taught in a small, rural two-room schoolhouse during the 1947-1948 school year in order to acquire the perspective from a former teacher who taught in a learning environment similar to that of a coal camp school. I also interviewed Dr. Stan Maynard, who attended two coal camp schools between the years of 1948-1956. His interview allowed me to explore the perspective of a former student who attended a coal camp school. Over the course of recording and analyzing both interviews, there were five major themes that emerged. First there was a vivid description of the local community that surrounded the schools that my grandmother taught at and the ones that Dr. Maynard attended over the years. Second, there was a strong emphasis on the different curricula for the schools that were discussed in the interviews. Next the daily routine and structure of the school day was discussed, right before both interview subjects elaborated on the student-teacher relationships that were created in this caring mentor dynamic. Finally, the success and legacy of the coal camp school mentality was discussed in order to stress the importance of the impact that this kind of school environment had on both interview subjects.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
I am a doctoral student in the Ed. D. program at Marshall University with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction. My research interests include the history of education and Appalachian education as well.
Miners and Mentors: Memory and Experiences in Coal Camp Schools in Appalachia
Appalachian educational history is as diverse as its mountains and music. As the number of the living students and teachers who taught and learned in coal camp schools dwindle over the years, their memories and experiences will also fade with them, if not preserved for future generations. I interviewed my grandmother, who taught in a small, rural two-room schoolhouse during the 1947-1948 school year in order to acquire the perspective from a former teacher who taught in a learning environment similar to that of a coal camp school. I also interviewed Dr. Stan Maynard, who attended two coal camp schools between the years of 1948-1956. His interview allowed me to explore the perspective of a former student who attended a coal camp school. Over the course of recording and analyzing both interviews, there were five major themes that emerged. First there was a vivid description of the local community that surrounded the schools that my grandmother taught at and the ones that Dr. Maynard attended over the years. Second, there was a strong emphasis on the different curricula for the schools that were discussed in the interviews. Next the daily routine and structure of the school day was discussed, right before both interview subjects elaborated on the student-teacher relationships that were created in this caring mentor dynamic. Finally, the success and legacy of the coal camp school mentality was discussed in order to stress the importance of the impact that this kind of school environment had on both interview subjects.
