I can sit here all day and say that I understand the cultures and values of poverty as they relate to our students, but I would be lying to you. Although I am reading Understanding Poverty, I don't think I ever will truly understand poverty. Unless I have to live in it, I simply cannot understand it. Believe me, I have tried to understand where many of our students are coming from, but I have a mental block. Maybe my growing up in a middle class household where values and virtues were taught, stressed, and expressed has shielded me from alot of things. One thing for sure, I think that we are "short-changing" the generations to come by allowing and accepting so much nonsense. Too often, we find excuses for the actions of those living in poverty. We are quick to say "You have to understand where they are coming from." Yes, I understand that, but do we stop there and accept the foolishness. Any living creature is "trainable". The problem comes about when we bend. I had a dog that I had the opportunity of housebreaking in less than two weeks. I did not bend, and I did not falter. In less than two weeks, I could leave my house for hours and come back home to clean floors. And my point is this, with those that are poverty-stricken, we bend and falter. We are too willing to accept what they bring us. Things have not always been the way they are now. Children of two or three generations ago did not do the things that we find our youth of today doing. Where did the breakdown occur? Where did we fail our future? In bending and faltering. In making excuses and accepting anything from them. Frustration and anger will arise in the classroom when dealing with some situations, especially when you just can't conceive some of the foolishness and nonsense that occurs. Here is my solution: (1)mandatory parenting classes (2) mandatory classes on understanding the middle class , (3) monthly fees for any single- parent household with more than 3 children. These are just MY solutions. I know that the poor will be with us always. It is written. I will never contest that. But I will contest how we handle the situations that are brought before us.
Kimberly you said a mouth full. I can tell you this, part of our problem as a community is we have the tendency to accept all the excuses and the fact of the matter is I am a child out of poverty and I tell my students all the time that they have choices and it is up to them whether or not they choose to leave poverty, because it can be done. My motto is "Don't let your income measure your outcome."
Kimberly I like the way you stated your comment. As a child of poverty I can relate to some of the problems, but the children today have really went to the extreme. We may not have had new clothes, money or the lastest fashion, but our parents made sure that we had the grace of God and manners for all of our adults. Some of my family is still in a poverty level and others have climbed out and has been doing really well. I firmly agree that the children can be taught and will follow our lead if we give them the encouragement that they need.
Ms. Neal stated the same feelings I often have. Often I feel that if you come from middle class (such as myself)and you state opinions such as these you draw negative feedback from others who constantly want to make excuses for people in poverty. I know there is no way I can truly understand what children (or adults for that matter) who live in poverty experience on a day to day basis. What I do know is that if we constantly accept all of the excuses of why they can't behave or why their behavior is like it is, we are really the ones doing them the injustice. One day they will leave our schools (where we made excuses for them since elementary) and go out into the world where other people are not going to care about their situation. I realize as teachers we can't change home situations or pull each and every child out of poverty, but it is our job, I believe, to teach them what is and is not accepted in middle class, if we are to hope that they will end up there one day.
Lori, I agree with you. I can also relate to situations of poverty. But, because my parents didn't have much financially, I still was taught morals, values, and taught to work hard for what I needed or wanted at an early age. I was taught that education was extremely important. Growing up in the 60's were difficult. We owned and farmed over a hundred acres of farmland. We planted cotton,corn, soybeans,and a variety of vegetables to eat. We had cows, pigs, geese, and goats. My father's income came solely from the crops harvested and animals sold and slaughtered. Many instances he only broke even after harvesting, therefore we had to work outside the farm. We stayed out of school as much as twice weekly during harvest time. Yet,I was able to maintain good grades throughout grade school.
It bothers me that so many of our children lives seems to be wasted on nothing more than "filth". What more can we do as educators? Augustine
Education is the key to getting out of and staying out of generational poverty. I believe being a positive role model is effective, also. It isn't how much money one makes but how one obtained his/her status. Good "ole" hardworking and reachable goal-setting are keys to success. As educators, dressing for success is important. Being modestly dressed, clean, well-groomed,speaking intelligently, and presenting a strong demeanor is important for a child to see. Also, I tell students they have choices to make. Even at the beginning of each day, choices have to be made. There are unwise choices as well as wise choices. One has to make the best possible choice at all times. Our students know we are there to help them succeed. Even if it means helping with projects, combing hair, paying fees, or merely just saying, "you can do it". Augustine
I agree with Kimberly and Meredith. It is hard for me to understand what poverty is like because I have never been there. It is important to know where they come from and feel compassion for them. However, you can't let them have a free ride because they have it hard at home. If we just let them get by then that will be what they will always do is just get by. I think it is important to help them strive for more. H. Gasper
I understand some things about poverty because I grew up in it in Tallulah, La. I was raised by my mom and my great-grandfather. My dad was not there for me, and I hated him for it. I blamed him as I got older for not being there for me and my brother. I know what it's like to go to bed hungry and be glad to go to school the next day because I knew that I would get a good meal to eat. I know what it is like to wear pants that had patches in the knees, and kids make fun of me because of my clothes and that my clothes were dirty. I can relate to a lot of my students at Robinson. I am just glad to see them at school, because I know that for some of them, they have other, more serious things to worry about. How can they worry about their future when they are living to survive day to day? In spite of that, I don't feel sorry for them. That is not what these kids need. They need someone to show them that there are alternatives to poverty, and to show them about the power of their choices. They need to know that they have choices, and that a good education can open the door for more choices. I have learned that the more choices you have in life, the better your quality of life can be. Glenn Antonio Kline
9 comments:
I can sit here all day and say that I understand the cultures and values of poverty as they relate to our students, but I would be lying to you. Although I am reading Understanding Poverty, I don't think I ever will truly understand poverty. Unless I have to live in it, I simply cannot understand it. Believe me, I have tried to understand where many of our students are coming from, but I have a mental block. Maybe my growing up in a middle class household where values and virtues were taught, stressed, and expressed has shielded me from alot of things. One thing for sure, I think that we are "short-changing" the generations to come by allowing and accepting so much nonsense. Too often, we find excuses for the actions of those living in poverty. We are quick to say "You have to understand where they are coming from." Yes, I understand that, but do we stop there and accept the foolishness. Any living creature is "trainable". The problem comes about when we bend. I had a dog that I had the opportunity of housebreaking in less than two weeks. I did not bend, and I did not falter. In less than two weeks, I could leave my house for hours and come back home to clean floors. And my point is this, with those that are poverty-stricken, we bend and falter. We are too willing to accept what they bring us. Things have not always been the way they are now. Children of two or three generations ago did not do the things that we find our youth of today doing. Where did the breakdown occur? Where did we fail our future? In bending and faltering. In making excuses and accepting anything from them.
Frustration and anger will arise in the classroom when dealing with some situations, especially when you just can't conceive some of the foolishness and nonsense that occurs. Here is my solution: (1)mandatory parenting classes (2) mandatory classes on understanding the middle class , (3) monthly fees for any single- parent household with more than 3 children. These are just MY solutions. I know that the poor will be with us always. It is written. I will never contest that. But I will contest how we handle the situations that are brought before us.
Wow! You have great comments!
Nicole Dodson
Kimberly you said a mouth full. I can tell you this, part of our problem as a community is we have the tendency to accept all the excuses and the fact of the matter is I am a child out of poverty and I tell my students all the time that they have choices and it is up to them whether or not they choose to leave poverty, because it can be done. My motto is "Don't let your income measure your outcome."
Kimberly I like the way you stated your comment. As a child of poverty I can relate to some of the problems, but the children today have really went to the extreme. We may not have had new clothes, money or the lastest fashion, but our parents made sure that we had the grace of God and manners for all of our adults. Some of my family is still in a poverty level and others have climbed out and has been doing really well. I firmly agree that the children can be taught and will follow our lead if we give them the encouragement that they need.
Ms. Neal stated the same feelings I often have. Often I feel that if you come from middle class (such as myself)and you state opinions such as these you draw negative feedback from others who constantly want to make excuses for people in poverty. I know there is no way I can truly understand what children (or adults for that matter) who live in poverty experience on a day to day basis. What I do know is that if we constantly accept all of the excuses of why they can't behave or why their behavior is like it is, we are really the ones doing them the injustice. One day they will leave our schools (where we made excuses for them since elementary) and go out into the world where other people are not going to care about their situation. I realize as teachers we can't change home situations or pull each and every child out of poverty, but it is our job, I believe, to teach them what is and is not accepted in middle class, if we are to hope that they will end up there one day.
Lori, I agree with you. I can also relate to situations of poverty. But, because my parents didn't have much financially, I still was taught morals, values, and taught to work hard for what I needed or wanted at an early age. I was taught that education was extremely important. Growing up in the 60's were difficult. We owned and farmed over a hundred acres of farmland. We planted cotton,corn, soybeans,and a variety of vegetables to eat. We had cows, pigs, geese, and goats. My father's income came solely from the crops harvested and animals sold and slaughtered. Many instances he only broke even after harvesting, therefore we had to work outside the farm. We stayed out of school as much as twice weekly during harvest time. Yet,I was able to maintain good grades throughout grade school.
It bothers me that so many of our children lives seems to be wasted on nothing more than "filth". What more can we do as educators?
Augustine
Education is the key to getting out of and staying out of generational poverty. I believe being a positive role model is effective, also. It isn't how much money one makes but how one obtained his/her status. Good "ole" hardworking and reachable goal-setting are keys to success. As educators, dressing for success is important. Being modestly dressed, clean, well-groomed,speaking intelligently, and presenting a strong demeanor is important for a child to see. Also, I tell students they have choices to make. Even at the beginning of each day, choices have to be made. There are unwise choices as well as wise choices. One has to make the best possible choice at all times. Our students know we are there to help them succeed. Even if it means helping with projects, combing hair, paying fees, or merely just saying, "you can do it".
Augustine
I agree with Kimberly and Meredith. It is hard for me to understand what poverty is like because I have never been there. It is important to know where they come from and feel compassion for them. However, you can't let them have a free ride because they have it hard at home. If we just let them get by then that will be what they will always do is just get by. I think it is important to help them strive for more.
H. Gasper
I understand some things about poverty because I grew up in it in Tallulah, La. I was raised by my mom and my great-grandfather. My dad was not there for me, and I hated him for it. I blamed him as I got older for not being there for me and my brother. I know what it's like to go to bed hungry and be glad to go to school the next day because I knew that I would get a good meal to eat. I know what it is like to wear pants that had patches in the knees, and kids make fun of me because of my clothes and that my clothes were dirty. I can relate to a lot of my students at Robinson. I am just glad to see them at school, because I know that for some of them, they have other, more serious things to worry about. How can they worry about their future when they are living to survive day to day? In spite of that, I don't feel sorry for them. That is not what these kids need. They need someone to show them that there are alternatives to poverty, and to show them about the power of their choices. They need to know that they have choices, and that a good education can open the door for more choices. I have learned that the more choices you have in life, the better your quality of life can be.
Glenn Antonio Kline
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