Idk if that’s the right qualifier. It should be “rural”. Because when people aren’t stupid, and they live in the city, they’re gonna get shuffled into classes pretty early with all the other not stupid people. But in small towns, small classes, you’re gonna see everyone. I’ve witnessed teachers saying this to kids over and over, and it’s because we didn’t have a choice. There was no fancy classroom either of us were escaping to.

Is a tired trope tho