The Humanities

On this episode of the Life in the Carolinas podcast, Carl sits down with Jeffrey Elmore who has, since 2013, served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 94th district which is made up of the population centers of Wilkes County and Alexander County. Outside of serving in Raleigh, Jeffrey is a public school teacher who has had the opportunity to teach visual arts, with a focus on painting and sculpture, to every grade level since 2001. “I like interactions with people,” says Jeffrey, speaking on why he chose education as a career path and, eventually, public service. His journey as a teacher began when he underwent the South Carolina Teaching Fellows Program which granted him a scholarship at Appalachian State University, where he graduated with a BS in Art Teacher Education. In this first year as a teacher, Jeffrey taught at Atkins, a low-performing, high-minority middle school, where he says he may just as well have gotten five years of teaching experience in one year. In his own words: “What that experience made me realize was how different other people’s circumstances are to your own. For many of those kids, it wasn’t an issue of academic performance. It was almost an issue of life survival. It was quite sad to see a 12-year-old who was concerned for their own safety—some of them concerned about their next meal, some concerned about making it to school that day.” Carl and Jeffrey touch on the vital importance of developing critical thinking skills in today’s globalized digital economy. It is a topic that never leaves Jeffrey’s mind, with his passion of education, service, and the arts. He believes that if the arts, including both fine and performing arts, were elevated in importance more than they currently are, critical thinking would skyrocket across the board. “Exposure to the arts,” he contends, “helps us not only understand ourselves; it helps us understand other people.” To further illustrate the point, Carl and Jeffrey point to a variety of successful figures, including U.S. presidents, who have some exposure to the arts. Continuing along this thread, they remark on the idea that, without the humanities, it would be impossible to thoroughly understand the meanings behind the founding documents. Jeffrey hopes that, in an age awash with technology, art, especially at the tactile level, continues to be embraced. “We are connected more than ever; but we’re also more disconnected more than ever.” On the other hand, “The arts are a reflection of the human experience.” MORE FROM LIFE IN THE CAROLINAS: Award Winning Segments — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Brown Mountain Lights — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Car Culture in the Carolinas — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Carolina Theater Trail — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Christmas in the Carolinas — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Taste of the Carolinas — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Honoring Veterans — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas On Route 74 — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas The Outdoors — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas The Outer Banks — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Video Podcasts — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas Carl's Syndicated Columns — Carl White's Life in the Carolinas  

Om Podcasten

Welcome to the Life in the Carolinas Podcast. Our show features a blending of stories that are primarily based on the syndicated TV show, Carl White's Life in the Carolinas and newspaper columns written by Carl White. Like Carl often says, "It's never a bad time for a good story!" The podcast is hosted by Carl and features specials guests as they share the stories behind the stories. All too often we simply do not have enough time to share everything we would like during broadcast. This podcast will allow us the opportunity to share more information and allow our viewers and readers a chance to get to know our guests more intimately. The Carolinas offer some of the finest people, landscapes, and opportunities to explore. We have traveled to the high elevations for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games which are considered to be among the best in the nation. We discovered the beauty of the brackish Waccamaw River and learned about the massive live oaks that predate the founding of America. In Gold Hill, NC we made a connection with the past and learned about the early days of gold mining in America. We were more than intrigued with a visit to the historic Wilcox Hotel in Aiken, SC and the stories of the Roosevelt Suite. Are the stories true? It's fun to think about the possibilities. Did you know Edgefield, SC was the home of ten South Carolina Governors and that the world-renowned Jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie was from Cheraw, SC? What about those mysterious Brown Mountain Lights in the North Carolina Mountains? They have kept people guessing for hundreds of years. Do you know what they are? The stories are abundant and only limited by how many tomorrows we have for their telling. Join us as we share our stories, traditions, charm, and southern hospitality.