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In a recent population survey, 7.1 million students under the age of 18 lived in a neighborhood with a poverty rate of 30 percent or more. This high incidence of poverty places these children at a higher rate of becoming ill, not having proper health care, becoming parents before finishing school, using illegal drugs, being exposed to or involved in violence, and going to jail before they are even old enough to vote. These social issues, which will be discussed in this chapter, can impact a child’s life both outside school as well as inside school. In education, there is a responsibility to teach them all, but are there things that teachers should know to do this well? Children living in below-average neighborhoods should be given the same opportunities as children living in average and above-average housing.
Learning Objectives
In this chapter, readers will…
- Identify critical social issues that directly influence the students’ academic success in the classroom
- Describe the impact poverty has on a student’s potential for success in schools
- Define the role of communication between the school and family
Key terms in the chapter are…
- Socioeconomic status
- At-risk
- Poverty
The Challenges of Poverty
A major disadvantage to students produced from living in poverty-stricken neighborhoods is the possibility of growing up not being able to succeed in life because they were not properly trained as children. It is the responsibility of the authoritarians, policymakers, parents, schools, and teachers to make sure each student, despite their living arrangements, is given an equal opportunity to succeed. Statistics have shown that students who live in poor neighborhoods usually test lower on standardized tests. The students also tend to learn less than students in average schools.
To make sure students living in low-income neighborhoods are well prepared for life as adults, certain things are required. Basic aspects include greater access to support that all families need to raise kids successfully–employment opportunities for parents, quality health care, formal and informal networks of adults who can assist in times of crisis, vibrant religious institutions, organized recreation, and safe streets. Parental opportunities, good health care, religious groups, and fun activities all make for a well-rounded student, but these children need a quality education. Education has been the vehicle for advancing the social and economic status of children and families, compensating for poverty and distressed environments, and, for millions of kids, paving the way to opportunities unavailable to their parents. Education is the catalyst for success. Research shows that school completion and academic success increase children’s ability to escape poverty, form strong families, and raise successful kids of their own. Research from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Money Income in the United States, states that a college graduate earns twice as much money a year compa