Using Place Conscious Education and Social Action to Plug The "Rural Brain Drain"

Authors

Danielle M. Helzer, University of Nebraska- LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

8-2012

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements Fort the Degree of Master of Arts, Major: English, Under the Supervision of Robert Brooke. Lincoln, Nebraska: August, 2012

Copyright (c) 2012 Danielle M. Helzer

Abstract

The following thesis will explore the Rural Brain Drain phenomenon as outlined by researchers Patrick Carr and Maria Kefalas and its relation to a rural Nebraska school. In order to take action against the exodus of small-town America’s best and brightest, I propose a pedagogical solution that is a blend of Place Conscious Education and Social Action. The last part of the document features a narrative section describing how I’ve implemented the aforementioned solution into English 9 classes at Ogallala High School and the impact this had on students involved.

Adviser: Robert Brooke