Book
Report-The Thread That Runs So True
“The Thread That
Runs So True†is an autobiography that relates to the early
experiences of a Kentucky teacher
as well as the author of this book,
Jesse Stuart. Stuart narrates his story
as an educator in six different
parts, with every episode addressing a stage during his career. At a tender age of seventeen years, Jesse was able
to teach for the first time
in a one-classroom in an isolated school
in the rural eastern of Kentucky. The pay was $60 per month.
The classroom that he first taught
in had 35 students, all who were
bare footed, and ranging between five to twenty years old. It
was the passion
that his students showed towards learning that reinforced his love towards teaching (Attwood 45). Following the conclusion of the six month term, Jesse spent the subsequent five years finishing high school, while working
in a steel mill for one year,
and ended up graduating from college 3 years later (Lincoln Memorial University,
Tennessee). After that, Jesse was hired at “Winston†High School
that is located in
“Greenland†County in Kentucky. He was
the sole teacher of 14 people for a salary of $100 per month. Stuart worked very hard as compared
to the students during the eight-month school term so as to stay
ahead of them. He later accepted the position of the
principal in "Landsburg†High School.
In
the
book
“The Thread That Runs So True,†the author, Stuart clarifies that the book is proposed to be a testimony towards teachers as well as the significance of teaching, Which Stuart cogitates the greatest profession globally due to its ability to nurture all the other professions. Therefore,
the book provides
a case history of a youthful, vigorous, as well as idealistic person who has entered
the teaching profession under exceptionally challenging situations along with learning from that experience (Forje 66). As the story comes
into a conclusion, Stuart, by the
age of 31, has worked as an elementary teacher, principal, as well as school superintendent.
While
he was a teacher,
he would teach all the subjects. He
shows the work
can be, incorporated with play.
His students range widely in terms of ability as well as age. Amongst the most
remarkable stories is the account of a fistfight involving him and his big, 20 years first-grade pupil. By the end
of the school year, Jesse Stuart had transformed the rudimentary
philosophy of education children's natural work is to play. It
enables them to learn, and therefore the
teacher ought to promote learning interest through establishment of games that are competitive academically (Stuart).
As
a teacher, Jesse Stuart was able to learn the
essence of interesting students as well as engaging them actively as well as
competitively in an atmosphere that is game-like.
During his time as a principal,
he discovered that both parents
and community members ought to become engaged in the promotion
of a learning environment
within the home setting as well as in the school. While
he was a superintendent,
Jesse Stuart learned that the negative consequences
of teaching as well as learning, which were; of
ill-informed interference, political
conflict, along with poor
funding. His condemnation towards the
old trustee system as well as a dual system was
devastating, as he preferred city systems,
discriminating the rural schools. The
key towards the excellence of Stuart in education was to drive interested,
dedicated, as well as
well-educated teachers in all the
classrooms. Regrettably, the Kentucky that existed during his generation was wasteful in terms
of education, as there lacked
support for schools.
There are a number of supporting characters used in the book. Don is a son to the School Trustee, and he is a walling and a bright boy. John Conway is the chairperson of the local school Board, as well as a sugar cane farmer, who has a big family, and
no education. There are as well Xenia and Jenny, Minnie and Edith, Sally, Billy, as well as
Naomi Deane.
Jesse in the book is
involved in many activities that take
place. He begins
his teaching career at a local primary school
as a young man, and this is the
place his fascinating journey starts. He
then moves to the college after leaving Lonesome valley the place
he started his life as a teacher. At
Landsburg High School, Jesse receives a little pay, and
he gets a lot
of challenges. He then becomes the
principal at Landsburg High School where
he faces a number
of challenges, but is in a position to solve them. The book, therefore,
covers more on the life of Jesse than any other character.
He plays the
key roles in the book that is the
platform of other events. His life as a teacher has many drawbacks
that evidence the problems
that were there in education system of Kentucky. For example, Jesse is poorly rewarded for
his work at Landsburg High School as he only receives
a pay of 100$ monthly. It is an evidence of the poor treatment that teachers in Kentucky get which is a key challenge to education
sector. Jesse favors teaching in schools in the urban areas
other than schools in rural areas due
to the problems associated with rural schools. For example,
in the rural schools, people study
while old, and
this is a key challenge to teachers.
It also shows
how education in Kentucky was poorly managed
since management did not care much about the
rural schools.
Mr. Stuart
curriculum is directed by both
learners and the society. There are few young men
who are very reluctant in pursuing of education. However, the promises that
Mr. Stuart makes to them enables
them to realize the importance of education to their lives. Reluctance of these men to pursue
education shows how Kentucky was slugging behind in
education. It was very dangerous
as the number of people who pursued
education were few. The living
conditions, educational conditions and educational
disagreements were the main challenges
faced by Kentucky.
From my point of view, it
was greatly surprising to see the living conditions,
education conditions and the disagreements
present in education system in Kentucky. From my view, the living condition
especially for people living in rural
areas is poor since they are ignorant, and they study
in schools whose conditions are very poor. Those
who teach in these schools are rewarded poorly and are faced
b a lot of challenges. The challenges in rural schools made
Jesse move to an urban school. The disagreements in education system at Kentucky are the have resulted in poor performance
of education system in
Kentucky as there are few people
who come to study. People are also not informed on the importance of education in their lives and thus are very
reluctant to pursue education. The book
draws an apparent picture of the nature
of Kentucky and the challenges faced by those living there.
Poor living conditions in Kentucky mainly in the rural areas
are evidenced by the poor schools with a lot of challenges. It is also evident
in the old people
who come to study. Disagreements in the educational system
in Kentucky are shown
by Jesse and Jason, who have personal differences.
These disagreements have resulted to poor management of education in Kentucky hence poor performance. It has also been a major
hindrance in solving the problems that
face education system within Kentucky. It is also the main
cause of poor education condition and poor living
condition for the people of Kentucky.
As
a result of the great challenges that Kentucky is facing in matters pertaining to peoples living conditions, education conditions and disagreements in education,
there should be strategies to change
these conditions. To start
with, educations management
team should focus on rectifying the poor
condition of rural schools so as to bear
learning activities at the rural areas.
It will also motivate more people to come and
pursue education. Secondly, there is a need to come up with education forums in Kentucky with the main aim being
educating all people about the importance
of education in their lives. It will help in reducing
the reluctance of pursuing education by the young people
in Kentucky. Thirdly, teachers' should be properly rewarded to motivate them in carrying out their
activities. It will help in boosting performance of education in
Kentucky. It will motivate the teachers to teach
even in rural areas hence boosting education in all areas of Kentucky. Young people should be encouraged to join schools were they
could pursue education. Awareness among these young people should be created to help them know the important
roles that education role play at individual and society level. Lastly, they should involve youths in
co-curriculum activities in schools
so as to attract them in schools. Curriculum activities involve engagement in activities such as sports that are diverse with various games such
as football, basketball and athletics. The activities usually are social activities. It unites the
youths with different settings such as poor
backgrounds and different literacy levels.
In conclusion, each stakeholder in education system in Kentucky should
focus on making it better through strategy development to solve the current
problems in education. The
different models that Stuart came up with ca be very resourceful in addressing
the issues that face the education system in Kentucky. Nevertheless, some of
the model cannot actually conform with the system of education, such as
recognition of playing as an important aspect of learning. This is as a result
of the mixture in people students whose ages vary so much. Young people ought to as well be encouraged to pursue education, and this
could be a good means of improving education in Kentucky. Education should be the first thing to prioritize within
Kentucky to better the future lives of people.
By so doing, then Stuarts’ assertion that teaching is the greatest profession globally due to its ability to nurture all the other professions,
would apply in an extensive manner.
Works
Cited
Attwood,
Feona. Analysis of The Thread That
Runs So True. DEU, 2009. Internet Source.
Forje,
John W.Literature Analysis of Different Texts. New York, N.Y: Nova
Science Publishers, 2009. Print.
Stuart, Jesse. The Thread That Runs So True. Dramatic Publishing, 1958. Print.
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