In the eastern foothills of Kentucky’s Wolfe County, it seems that despite some changes, things have remained the same. The War on Poverty launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 brought about improvements such as new highways, a Dairy Queen restaurant, and sewer lines. However, these developments did not alleviate the persistent poverty in the region. Now, the residents are placing their hopes on the schools, supported by the state’s reform law.
While some progress can be seen with the replacement of older houses with house trailers and newer homes, poverty remains deeply entrenched in Wolfe County. With 40 percent of its residents living below the federal poverty line, the county ranks among the 50 poorest counties in the United States. This dire state of poverty is not unique to eastern Kentucky but is a reality in many central cities and rural communities across the country.
Even though the poverty rate in the United States is currently at its lowest level in 20 years, poverty has not been eradicated. According to the latest Census Bureau data, 11.8 percent of Americans were living below the federal poverty level, similar to the percentage in 1979. Additionally, the number of “working poor” families, where at least one parent works full-time but their income remains below the poverty level, has significantly increased. The number of children living in such families has risen by 30 percent in the 1990s to a current estimate of 5.8 million.
The potential impact of an economic downturn is a cause for concern. If the nation experiences a recession or slowdown, the overall poverty numbers could rise again. This emphasizes the pressing need to address the issue of poverty even during times of economic prosperity.
For educators, the reality is that children form the largest group living in poverty in America. Approximately 12.1 million children, or 16.9 percent of those under 18, are living in poverty. This figure has only marginally improved since 1979 when it was 16 percent. In Wolfe County alone, over 1,000 children are classified as poor. This persistent child poverty presents a challenge to schools, but there is hope that with collaborative efforts, including both social and academic support, educators and their communities can help alleviate the detrimental effects of poverty and enable disadvantaged children to succeed academically.
Research has shown that the duration of poverty significantly impacts children’s outcomes. Children who experience poverty for an extended period are more likely to face negative consequences. This highlights the importance of addressing poverty early on and providing long-term support to children in need.
Source:
Excerpt from “Consequences of Growing Up Poor” by Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Greg J. Duncan, and Nancy Maritato (1997)
The district also sends over three-quarters of its graduating seniors to vocational schools, community colleges, or four-year institutions. With the help of generous scholarships, the majority of them choose to attend one of the seven colleges and universities within a 70-mile radius. However, achieving educational success has not been easy in a district where 90 percent of students come from families who qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. Stephen Butcher, the superintendent and a lifelong resident of eastern Kentucky, understands the challenges firsthand. Growing up just three miles away from the famous Butcher Holler mentioned in Loretta Lynn’s song “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” he witnessed poverty as the son of a coal miner. At the age of 11, he even had the opportunity to touch President Johnson on the shoulder during his visit to promote poverty programs in the 1960s.
Wolfe County, Kentucky, with a population of 7,400, has a poverty rate of 38 percent. The public school enrollment is 1,300, and the student body is predominantly non-Hispanic white, with only seven African-Americans and two American Indians. A staggering 90 percent of students receive free or reduced-price meals. Unlike other eastern Kentucky counties that were affected by the decline of coal mining in the 1970s and 1980s, Wolfe County never had a significant coal industry. Beyond the school system, the county has few employers and limited job opportunities. In October, the county’s unemployment rate reached 10.9 percent, more than 2.5 times the state average, partially due to a recent plant closure.
Until the welfare system overhaul in 1996, which imposed time limits on welfare recipients, some families here had become reliant on public assistance as a way of life. Sister Margie Zureick, a Roman Catholic missionary who has worked in the county for 13 years, remembers a high school student who revealed his plans to “draw the welfare” when asked about his future aspirations. Adding to the economic challenges is the presence of Daniel Boone National Forest, which occupies a large portion of the county and limits its tax base for funding schools. As a result, school systems in the eastern and westernmost parts of the state were spending as little as $2,000 to $3,000 per year per child in the late 1980s, while wealthier districts were spending up to $9,000, according to state school officials. Veteran teachers recall starting their careers with minimal classroom supplies, often limited to chalk and a chalkboard.
District administrators in Wolfe County, eager to take advantage of their newfound resources, embarked on a mission to reduce class sizes to an average of 14 students. They also aimed to strengthen reading programs in early elementary school and introduce after-school tutoring. To achieve these goals, Beasley and 10 other retired “master” teachers and administrators were rehired on 100-day contracts. These veteran educators are now assigned to all five county schools, where they work as reading specialists, guidance counselors, principals, and art and music teachers. This marks a historic development for the system, as every school now has a guidance counselor and access to arts education. The school board generally supported these improvements, typically voting 5-0 in favor. Roger Drake, an accountant and the junior member of the board, explains, “If money could fix the issues, we made sure to allocate it. I believe our success is a result of having more resources and implementing better strategies than before.”
A crucial aspect of the school improvement act is the belief that all children, regardless of background, have the capacity to learn. Teachers and administrators have wholeheartedly embraced this concept. Assistant Superintendent Deatrah Barnett expresses, “We no longer accept the notion that a child’s potential is determined by their parents’ achievements. We teach our kids that being from eastern Kentucky does not equate to being unintelligent.” A study from the Foundation for Child Development emphasizes the negative impact of malnutrition on a child’s development. It explains that when the body lacks sufficient nutrients, it prioritizes survival functions and physical growth over cognitive development and social interactions. Consequently, undernourished children often experience lower energy levels, reduced interest in activities, and limitations in intellectual functioning.
Campton Elementary School welcomes its students with yellow school buses rolling up the hill as early as 6:30 AM on weekdays. The early arrival is due to the district’s provision of free breakfast and lunch, a common practice in impoverished areas. Across the nation, 96,000 public and private schools participate in the federal free and reduced-price lunch program, while 72,000 schools offer federally subsidized breakfasts. Wolfe County goes the extra mile by allocating an additional $10,000 to $14,000 per year to provide both meals to children of all income levels. This program represents a significant improvement compared to the district’s previous involvement in the federal program. Previously, students were given distinct tickets at the lunch line, with one color indicating payment and another indicating a free meal. This differentiation made it apparent to classmates which students did not have to pay. Roger Drake recalls his experience, stating, “When I was in elementary school, I dreaded completing the application for free lunch every year. At one point, it became so embarrassing that during roll call, students who paid for their lunch would say ‘Here,’ while those receiving a free lunch had to say ‘Free.’ When every child is able to eat for free, it levels the playing field.” It is challenging to determine the exact number of hungry children in the area. Eastern Kentucky residents, often referred to as “mountain people,” typically support their homeless relatives and share their limited food supplies. However, state statistics show that 955 families in Wolfe County receive food stamps. Additionally, teachers have noticed that certain children come to school on Monday mornings with voracious appetites, which gradually diminish throughout the week. Implementing the universal meals program is one of the extra measures taken by the district to ensure that all students arrive at school prepared and ready to learn. Superintendent Butcher believes it to be one of the most significant achievements of the school system.
Lacy emphasizes that each day brings a new set of tasks and responsibilities. For instance, she has assisted parents in completing guardianship paperwork, purchased shoes for students, organized a summer event called “Readifest” to distribute school supplies and study tips to children, arranged luncheons on parenting education, traveled difficult roads without phone access to reach families in need, and coordinated vision, dental, and hearing screenings for kids. Lacy points out that the county has limited healthcare services, with only one pediatrician, one general practitioner, a part-time dentist, and a local mental health agency. To access hospitals and specialized medical care, parents must travel outside the county. However, lack of transportation options, such as a working car or enough money for gas, creates challenges for many families. Although there is a taxi service available, it is not affordable for longer distances. Additionally, the local development district’s medical transportation van is inconvenient for families with young children. To support working parents, the family-resource centers in Wolfe County have established a daycare facility at Campton Elementary School, where toddlers can be dropped off for a daily fee of $10. April Broughton, a young mother with three children enrolled at Rogers Elementary School, expresses her gratitude towards Susan, who has played a significant role in improving her life. April and Danny Broughton have faced financial difficulties since becoming teenage parents nine years ago. However, a string of health problems this fall has further exacerbated their struggles. The Broughton family resides in a small rented house with low ceilings and a broken window. Outside, there is a worn plaid couch and a beat-up Pontiac that detracts from the entrance. Nevertheless, inside the house, everything is immaculate, with panel-board walls adorned with cheerful pictures of the Broughton children. The family’s health troubles began when their 7-year-old son, Danny Jr., almost died from an allergic reaction to a bee sting he received while playing on the school playground. This incident prompted school officials to request that April Broughton obtain additional epinephrine syringes so that teachers and bus drivers could have them on hand in case of another allergy attack. Unfortunately, the family’s insurance did not cover the extra doses. The cost of healthcare poses a problem for families living in poverty or working poor families. In the United States, over 11 million children lack health insurance. Statistics reveal that only around 68% of children in families below the poverty line reported being in very good or excellent health, compared to 86% of children in families above the poverty line, as reported in a study by the Foundation for Child Development. Fortunately, the Family-resource center, in collaboration with Sister Zureick’s local Catholic services agency, stepped in and covered the expenses for the additional epinephrine. However, the Broughton family faced more challenges when April experienced two successive heart attacks shortly after. She had to undergo surgery to correct the underlying heart problem. Around the same time, her husband suffered a severe ankle injury that prevented him from working in the factory for several months.
“By the time my students reach me in ninth grade, a significant portion of them have already resigned themselves to the belief that they are inferior. This mindset is deeply ingrained in their surroundings, and they use it to justify their lack of interest in education. They argue that since their parents and grandparents did not need an education to succeed, they won’t either. It is my daily mission to challenge this flawed thinking and use my own story as motivation for them.” — Excerpt from “My Odyssey: Setting Sail for Ithaca” by Kevin Jones, a teacher at Wolfe County High School.
Zureick and other advocates for the impoverished also argue that the welfare reforms implemented across the country through the federal law of 1996 have had minimal impact in these areas. She shares an example of a young mother whose monthly rent increased from $39 to $100 as soon as she started working 30 hours a week at a convenience store. In spring last year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a directive stating that individuals leaving the welfare system should be protected from such rent increases for at least a year after finding employment. However, officials from the Kentucky Cabinet for Children and Families claim that some local offices of the federal agency have yet to receive this information. “The system is designed in a way that prevents you from progressing,” argues Zureick. Advocates for children nationwide express similar concerns. In some states, families lose their childcare benefits when mothers on welfare return to work. (Kentucky’s childcare benefits gradually decrease as the mother works, but families within the state’s income guidelines remain eligible for assistance.) The problem lies in the fact that, on average, childcare costs consume 30% of a family’s budget, making it challenging for low-wage-earning families to manage. “Taking a minimum-wage job, even if you work full-time, will not lift you out of poverty if you have two or three children,” says Richard F. Wertheimer, the area director for data and measurement at Child Trends, a research and advocacy group based in Washington. “Having both parents working minimum-wage jobs can pull you out of poverty.” In fact, many experts attribute the significant increase in working-poor families to the changes in welfare regulations.
This is why the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and the improvements it has brought to Wolfe County schools have had a greater impact on the lives of children here than the welfare-to-work movement has had so far, according to Zureick. Similar educational programs in other states, such as Georgia’s universal pre-kindergarten programs, are also making a difference, as supported by advocates and experts. “Children need to see that there are opportunities in life,” says Zureick, and school may be the first place where they get a glimpse of that. Like many individuals living in isolated poverty, whether in a rural mountain community or a bustling city, the people here have been told for a long time that they are backward, causing them to internalize this belief. Wolfe County educators say that overcoming this psychological hurdle may be even more challenging than addressing the physical barriers that prevent children from maximizing their educational potential. For this reason, the schools have worked diligently to create a welcoming and supportive culture that values and expands the horizons of the children and their families. “I arrive here at 6:15 every morning to ensure that the first thing children see when they get off the bus is my smiling face,” says Howard K. Osborne, the principal of Campton Elementary School. Wearing a Winnie-the-Pooh tie that clashes with his plaid shirt, Osborne truly embodies a cheerful figure in his school. To greet all 256 students at Campton with a smile, he travels over an hour each morning from his residence in Johnson County. “Some may see it as a minor detail, but for me, it sets the tone for the day,” he states about his role as the official greeter. Osborne is also present to praise students who arrive late.
A potential explanation for some parents’ lack of involvement in schooling may be attributed to the adult literacy rates. State officials state that 53.2 percent of working-age adults in the county possess reading and writing skills only sufficient to read a medicine bottle or understand a bus schedule. Nationally, the estimated figure is around 40 percent. These statistics imply that a considerable proportion of parents in Wolfe County may feel uneasy about entering their children’s schools, as they may have experienced academic struggles in the past.
Nevertheless, a significant number of parents, estimated to be between 150 and 175, attended parent conferences at Campton Elementary this autumn. Both parents and educators at Campton and other elementary schools in the district note that these numbers have been increasing each year since the mid-1990s.
In order to make the outside world seem less daunting and more accessible, the school system has devoted substantial resources to education-focused field trips. For instance, Evans’ fifth-grade class at Campton has the opportunity to embark on up to six trips during the academic year. Last year, they visited various destinations, including an aquarium, a state history museum, a car manufacturing facility, and a nearby natural rock formation. Evans states that last year, one-third of the children had never been to Natural Bridge State Park, which is just a short drive away. Most of these trips also incorporate a stop at a restaurant to provide students with the opportunity to practice purchasing their own meals, which is a rare experience for children in a county with limited dining options.
Evans serves as an example of many teachers in the district, as she herself is a product of the school system. At the county’s only high school, 32 out of 35 teachers are former students.
Kevin Jones, a teacher in Wolfe County, exemplifies a success story from the community. He graduated as the valedictorian of Wolfe County High School’s class of 1994 and was the first in his family to attend college. Jones received a full scholarship to Morehead State University, located approximately 70 miles away from his hometown, and graduated with high honors. Despite his family’s expectations for him to pursue bigger opportunities elsewhere, Jones had the strong desire to return and teach English at his alma mater. He believes that some individuals in the community hold a deep-rooted belief of inferiority, which he aims to disprove through his presence and dedication.
In the classroom, Jones shares his own personal journey, establishes high standards for his students, and motivates them to strive for success. He believes that the quality of education his students receive will enable them to thrive in any setting, but acknowledges that it requires continuous effort.
The desire to return home is a common sentiment in Wolfe County. Unlike many small towns across the United States that are experiencing population decline, Wolfe County has maintained relatively stable numbers since 1990. The allure of the region’s natural beauty, strong family ties, and the perception of a safe and secure environment make it an attractive choice for former students to settle down.
The educational progress of Wolfe County is threatened by larger social problems. Similar to other areas with high poverty rates, the county also faces challenges such as child abuse, parents suffering from depression, incarcerated parents, and teenage pregnancies. According to Kentucky Kids Count, an annual report on children’s wellbeing, between 1996 and 1998, an average of 27 babies were born to teenagers aged 15 to 19, with the majority being unmarried. This rate was the second highest in the state.
In his college paper on his own literacy development, Jones, a high school teacher, observed that some things have remained unchanged. He noticed that the same girls still write letters to their star-crossed lovers and aspire to get married at 15, believing it displays their maturity.
Gordon Parido, the principal of Wolfe County, acknowledges the difficulties in dissuading students from engaging in substance abuse. He recognizes that for some, getting high is possibly the only way they feel good throughout the day.
If early parenthood hinders mothers from pursuing further education, the cycle continues with the next generation. However, despite its picturesque setting, drug use is prevalent among the children of Wolfe County, just like in any other area. Surveys reveal an increasing usage of marijuana, alcohol, and inhalants among the county’s high school students. Shockingly, 13 percent of elementary students admitted to using inhalants, primarily gasoline fumes. Additionally, 16 percent of high school students reported that their parents do not view drinking alcohol as wrong, and 11 percent said the same about marijuana use.
Parido says, “It’s tough for me to convince some kids that getting high is not a good thing when, for some of them, that’s probably the best they’ve felt all day.”
Educators in Wolfe County emphasize that addressing child poverty is a task that exceeds the capabilities of schools alone. This sentiment is echoed by advocates at the national level and educators in numerous communities across the country that struggle with persistent rates of childhood poverty.
According to Takanishi from the Foundation for Child Development, “Schools are an important part of the solution, but they cannot be the sole solution.” She emphasizes that employers, parents, adult education programs, and social-service agencies must all contribute. However, in Wolfe County, schools may potentially be the best starting point to address these challenges.