When I was 8-years-old I moved from Hoopa to Burnt Ranch, CA. The entire school, K-8, only had 48 students at the time. I was in 3rd grade and it only had five students. The school grew to over 60 by the time I exited 8th grade. I’m especially happy to make school visits to small schools in rural areas.
Sometimes we do science experiments related to my books and other times we read stories or do art projects. This visit was all about the stories.
Cox Bar Elementary is only about 15 miles from Burnt Ranch, and about 40 miles from Hoopa. I’ve made a few visits over the years. This year, the school has fewer than 15 students. The kids were pretty excited to know I grew up so close to where they live.
Taking questions from the kids, mostly about roadkill and vultures.
Reading “Buddy, the Wayward Wolverine” and talking about animals native to the Cox Bar School area.
Reading “No Place for Ugly Birds” and talking about turkey vultures.
MaryALivingston 
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How wonderful to be part of such a small community – those children look well focussed and interested!
The culture of a small school is very different from the larger schools. In a small school there is no anonymity, it’s like an extended family. Small schools are fading from the landscape.
Tim,
I love that Mary is holding school visits and sharing her turkey vulture book. I put a link to one of her turkey vulture videos on my January blog post. http://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/january-2014-brings/ (check under Special Weeks–Bald Eagle Appreciation–Jan. 18 &19.
The turkey vulture videos are a lot of fun, and something kids don’t see everyday. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank you for sharing!
‘A talent is not a talent until it has been shared. If we are so blessed as to be an artist, shouldn’t we help someone just as someone helped us? ‘(Wayne A. Wright)
what a sweet gift you gave those precious children! z
The kids are so precious, I have a lot of fun with them.
Reblogged this on The Backdoor Artist.
I, too, attended a small rural school in the log woods. It was the early ’50s, in a lumber camp called Happy Jack in the ponderosa Pine Forest of Northern Arizona. Eight grades, two rooms, two teachers, and two outhouses. School during summer, as camp was closed during winter. That was third through sixth grades. When I reached seventh grade, the school was closed, and we were bussed 90 miles a day, into Flagstaff. Much preferred the small school! The good old days. Thanks for the memories.
John
johnfarnsworth.com
Small schools have a beautiful
flavor all their own. I feel for the kids who have to bus long distances when the little schools close.
Hmmm, I’ve grown to feel sorry for kids, too, who have to remain in school past grade six. Here’s why:
Love it! We pulled our boys out when the eldest was half way through kindergarten. We didn’t leave school, just went in a different direction. They are now 27 & 28 years of age. Both wonderful young men.
I really like the term “hackschooling” and see my son and daughter-in-law applying this for their kids and thus enriching their traditional education.
This is why I visit schools. Thank you for sharing!
We visit a small school in a small town near Glen Rose. Pre-K thru 12th grade. I love going there. It’s a great little school community. The big kids take care of the little kids and the little kids look up to the big kids. A fun place to be.
As it should be. It is better for kids to have community of all ages. And important for them to have pets. I bet the kids love your visits.