[fintstone]

I grew up in rural Appalachia. Most kids were poor and many had parents that did not go past the 2nd grade. Many were very poor and could hardly afford shoes/clothes for school. Every child could read to grade level when they "graduated" from the 8th grade. Most all did much better. They could do math and were pretty well versed in history and science. The teachers were excellent and rather strict. They were not paid particularly well, and the school itself was pretty antiquated. God bless those teachers.

My kid's teachers seemed to be entitled and did not seem to much care about the kids in their classes. Mine seemed to look at the students as their own children. My 4th grade teacher moved up to the 7th grade and then the 8th when my class reached that point...I believe, because we were "her kids." She was a huge impact on my life.