Talent isn't the problem for rural students. Access is | Kirsten Lane Oct 1, 2026 9 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Kirsten Lane Submitted kAmpD 9:89 D49@@= D6?:@CD 862C FA 7@C E96 9FDE=6 2?5 8C:?5 @7 E96 4@==686 25>:DD:@?D AC@46DD[ E96 6IA6C:6?46 42? 36 5:776C6?E 7@C DEF56?ED :? CFC2= 2?5 FC32? 2C62]k^AmkAm(96? x H2D 2446AE65 E@ '2?56C3:=E &?:G6CD:EJ :? a_ab[ 25>:?:DEC2E@CD :? >J CFC2= r6?E6CG:==6[ %6??6DD66[ 9:89 D49@@= H6C6 D9@4<65i p 8:C= 7C@> @FC 5:DEC:4E 925 ?@E 366? 25>:EE65 :? @G6C ad J62CD]k^AmkAm%96 BF2:?E E@H? 92D @?=J @?6 9:89 D49@@=[ 3FE :E 3@C56CD @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D H62=E9:6DE 4@F?E:6D[ (:==:2>D@? r@F?EJ] r6?E6CG:==6[ H96C6 x 8C6H FA[ :D ;FDE 2 =:EE=6 =6DD E92? 2? 9@FC D@FE9H6DE @7 }2D9G:==6[ H96C6 '2?56C3:=E[ @?6 @7 E96 %@A `_ D49@@=D :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ :D =@42E65]k^Am The Duck River flows through rural Centerville, Tennessee, where students lack the resources of their suburban and urban peers. Nicole Hester / The Tennessean kAm$9@4< D9@F=5 ?@E 36 E96 5672F=E C624E:@? H96? 2 DEF56?E 7C@> 2 CFC2= D49@@= DF44665D]k^Am People are also reading… Clarinda volleyball dominant in battle of Hawkeye 10 unbeatens Big plays on offense and defense fuel Shenandoah's Homecoming win Shenandoah boys earn Glenwood cross country championship Watch Clarinda's 3 set points from a win over Carroll Watch Shenandoah football highlights from a win over Missouri Valley Fall Sports Scoreboard: Monday, September 28 Updated state rankings for Clarinda FB, Shenandoah boys XC, Sidney VB drops out Clarinda Schools, Agriland continue partnership Clarinda tennis battles past Shenandoah for 6th straight regional final appearance Ranking the Top 10 volleyball teams in Southwest Iowa A point from each Clarinda/Shenandoah singles tennis match Wergin Good Farm Neighbor Award presented to fifth-generation family farm Shenandoah volleyball looking to take next step in season's final weeks State tennis berths secured, Shenandoah football, Clarinda volleyball earn wins Southwest Iowa high school football rankings after Week 5 kAm(9:=6 r6?E6CG:==6 :D :? 4=@D6 AC@I:>:EJ E@ '2?56C3:=E[ E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D @776C65 E@ DEF56?ED 5@?’E DE24< FA E@ E9@D6 :? 36EE6C\C6D@FC465 A=246D] xEVD ?@E 2>3:E:@? 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CFC2= DEF56?ED H9@ 5@ >2?286 E@ AC@G6 E96>D6=G6D E@ 6=:E6 F?:G6CD:EJ 25>:DD:@?D @77:46CD DE:== 7246 9FC5=6D]k^Am kAm#FC2= DEF56?ED >2J ?@E 92G6 366? 6IA@D65 E@ H92E uC6?49 E96@C:DE !:6CC6 q@FC5:6F 42==D 4F=EFC2= 42A:E2=[ ?@?\7:?2?4:2= 2DD6ED =:<6 A6CD@?2= <?@H=6586[ D<:==D 2?5 E2DE6D E92E :?7=F6?46 D@4:2= >@3:=:EJ] p DEF56?E 7C@> 2? 6=:E6 9:89 D49@@= >2J =62C? E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 =6256CD9:A[ 4C:E:42= E9:?<:?8 2?5 ?6EH@C<:?8] |62?H9:=6[ 2? F?56C7F?565 9:89 D49@@= =:<6 >:?6 @7E6? E62496D 2 4FCC:4F=F> 7@4FD65 @? 7@==@H:?8 DE6A\3J\DE6A :?DECF4E:@?D 2?5 @C56C]k^Am kAm%9:D >62?D E92E >J A66CD 2?5 x H6C6 AC6AA65 7@C E96 H@C<7@C46 367@C6 H6 6G6C C62=:K65 :E]k^Am kAmx?G6DE:?8 :? CFC2= D49@@=D :D 6DD6?E:2= E@ 249:6G:?8 2 H@C=5 H96C6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2C6 2446DD:3=6 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] #FC2= D49@@=D :? %6??6DD66 92G6 @?6 @7 E96 =@H6DE =6G6=D @7 DA6?5:?8 :? E96 &]$] !C@A6C 7F?5:?8 D9@F=5 36 6BF2==J 5:DEC:3FE65 24C@DD DE2E6D 2?5 2==@42E65 7@C 4@==686 C625:?6DD AC@8C2>D[ DF49 2D p! 2?5 x?E6C?2E:@?2= q2442=2FC62E6 4=2DD6D]k^Am kAm$EF56?ED ?665 C6D@FC46D 2?5 7F?5:?8 E@ 86E E@ C6DA64E23=6 EC256 D49@@=D[ =@42= DE2E6 F?:G6CD:E:6D 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D] qFE D@>6@?6 H9@ 5C62>D @7 D@>6E9:?8 5:776C6?E 2=D@ 56D6CG6D E@ 92G6 2 492?46 2E 7F=7:==:?8 E96:C 5C62>]k^Am kAm%96 D6=64E:@? 2?5 6IA6CE:D6 @7 CFC2= 9:89 D49@@= 4@F?D6=@CD 2=D@ ?665D :>AC@G6>6?E] |2?J D49@@= 4@F?D6=@CD 2C6 DEC6E4965 E9:?[ 2?5 :E :D :>A@CE2?E E96J 86E AC@A6C EC2:?:?8 E@ 96=A DEF56?ED E9C@F89 E96 4@==686 2AA=:42E:@? AC@46DD] u24F=EJ D9@F=5 =:7E DEF56?ED FA 2D E96J DEC:G6 E@ AFCDF6 E96:C 8@2=D C2E96C E92? AC6DDFC6 E96> :?E@ 36:?8 >@C6 “C62=:DE:4[” D@>6E9:?8 x H2D E@=5 >2?J E:>6D 2D 2 9:89 D49@@=6C]k^AmkAm#FC2= DEF56?ED 5@?VE 5:776C >F49 7C@> DEF56?ED 7C@> DF3FC32? @C FC32? D49@@=D] %96 ECF6 5:776C6?46 =:6D :? E96:C D49@@=D’ =24< @7 7F?5:?8 2?5 C6D@FC46D[ 2?5 E9FD E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E96J >:89E 92G6 2446DD E@] x7 H6 H@C< E@ 4=@D6 E96D6 82AD[ E96? @?6 52J :E >:89E ?@E D66> D@ D9@4<:?8 H96? 2 8:C= 7C@> 2 D>2== E@H? 86ED :?E@ 96C 5C62> D49@@=]k^Am Lane is a junior at Vanderbilt University. She wrote this for the Nashville Tennessean and USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect. 0 Comments Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Is our admiration for the Amish overlooking real harm? | The Ethical Life podcast 🎧 Behind an idealized image of simplicity and community are difficult questions about education, healthcare, gender roles, individual freedom… Tariffs on Harley-Davidson bikes? 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