By Tiffany Fry

For The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON — Delco and Guide used to offer good jobs in Madison County without a lot of education. Those days are gone.

Tanya Tellis understands that all too well. Her parents didn’t go to college, and neither did she — until now.

“I’m starting all over again,” Tellis said. “I’ve been out of high school since 1994, and now I’m going back. With just a high school diploma, it’s hard to find work.”

Though education may not have been a priority in Anderson over the years, some educators believe the attitude is changing.

“The culture predominantly understands that you need more than just a high school diploma,” said Marc Boyer, a math teacher at South Side Middle School. “The majority of people I come in contact with understand that our students need to go to college to succeed.”

Tellis tries to emphasize to her children the importance of getting a good education.

“I help them with their homework and explain how important it is to know your lesson,” she said. “Once you know it, no one can take it away.”

Children’s attitudes toward education are influenced from the very beginning of their childhoods, so it’s important to help them plug into their academic potential early.

“As educators, we’re always looking at what we can do — how we can best impact student achievement,” said Rebekah Baker, assistant professor of education at Anderson University.  “It’s really important for schools and caregivers to work together as partners.”

Communication key to changing culture

Another AU education professor, Suzanne Walker, emphasized that education should begin at home.

“An average child has been read to a total of 1,000 hours before starting school,” said Walker. “A child in poverty has only been read to a total of 25 hours. The more you’ve been read to, the better your speaking and learning ability.”