Poverty

1. Poverty Trevor Staff, Rebecca MacDougall, Haley Claxton

2. What is Poverty? • Poverty is the pronounced deprivation of well being. It is the inability to satisfy one's basic needs because one lacks income to buy services from lack of access to services.

3. Who is affected? • Men, women, children, and the elderly, not only in this country about around the world are affected by poverty. • According to the World Bank 1.4 Billion people live below the poverty line, equivalent of less than $1.25 a day. • They also state that 3 billion people live on less than $2.25 a day. • Nearly 80% of all humanity lives on less than $10 a day.

4. Causes of Poverty • Economic Shock • Food shortages • Environmental destruction • Poor policy choices by government • Inequality of race or social differences • Lack of money for basic amenities (i.e. food, water, shelter, and healthcare) • Exploitation of people by businesses that exacerbate the downward poverty cycle • Individual responsibility

5. What does that mean for educators? • Likely to have students in our classrooms who are stricken by poverty. • Providing extra resources and services so that the student can be the most successful.

6. Candles In April by Jamila Appleby • This story has lived in me for more than 25 years. I was in the 7th grade. This is a time when how others see you is crucial to your existence. One beautiful spring day in April I came home from school. My mother was always home when I arrived in the afternoon, so I expected her to be in one of her two usual places: in the kitchen reading and watching television, or in her bedroom. However, as I was putting my things away, I noticed that the house had an unusual silence, a stillness.

7. Candles in April Continued • Jamila Appleby grew up in a struggling home. • In one instance her family found herself with their power turned off for 3 month. • Used candles and flashlights to light the house • Jamila stated, "School was my salvation..." • One teacher told her, "Oh, nothing’s that bad. Come on, you kids don’t know what real problems are. You’re too young!"

8. Sensitivity of Educators • One teacher told her, "Oh, nothing’s that bad. Come on, you kids don’t know what real problems are. You’re too young!" • This teacher did not understand that some students have difficult lives. • As educators we need to be sensitive to students and their need, we cannot just chalk it up to emotions. • Home life sometimes becomes a prison and students dread going home.

9. Those Shoes • Jeremy's family does not have enough money for the "Black High-Tops and Two white stripes. • Everybody has those shoes, but not Antonio or Jeremy. • Jeremy finds a pair at the thrift store, but they are too small. • He ends up giving them to Antonio who is also a peer who is also comes froma struggling family • In the end both Jeremy run off into the snow witrh brand new black boots for winter.

10. Those Shoes Continued • Many students do not have the money to buy amenities like a new pair shoes. • As educators it is our job to help others students to learn to accept other student that cannot afford the basic needs that other students can. • Students need help and it is up tot he educator to provide an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.

11. Children Making a Difference...by Kathy R. Fox. • Educators tend to teach poverty in isolated circumstances, usually around Thanksgiving and Christmas. • Food drives seem to be the go-to solution • Students do not understand that hunger and poverty can happen to anyone, at any given time. • Through service learning, students can take action all year long.

12. Children Making a Difference cont.. • A teacher had her students reflect on a time when they went hungry and the answers varied from missing a meal, to hardships and parents worrying about getting enough food for their family. • Teachers need to teach that poverty can affect anyone and is not always so obvious. • Food bank coordinator came in and told the class that her clientele was hardworking, diverse, and of almost every age.

13. Children Making a Difference cont.. • We should teach students relevant information and allow them to use the internet to look up more information on poverty. • Trips can be taken to local food banks or shelters to allow students to visually see poverty. • Allow students to create ideas in which to help those in poverty all year rather than just a single food drive.

14. The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need. -Stan and Jan Berenstain - The Bear family realizes that they have "too much stuff" in their home. - Mama Bear comes up with the idea to donate the items to various places. - The Bear family sees how much their old stuff is appreciated by those that donate too. The Bear family donates not only their old items, but their time as well.

15. Berenstain Bears cont... - This book shows that those in poverty are not the only ones that need help and time. - Opens up room for discussion on things that students might have "too much" of and could give to someone who doesn't have that much. - Ends with the Bear family feeling good about themselves and what they did for others.

16. Coat of Many Colors- Dolly Parton

17. Addressing Poverty Bias in the Classroom By Jacqueline Yahn • Yahn talks about her Nana who grew up below the poverty line. Her story makes her consider the division between students living below the poverty line and their teachers. • She urges educators to avoid myths about poverty. For instance people choose to be in poverty, all people living in poverty act the same way, or that educator in impoverished areas should encourage students to leave. • Yahn also encourages us to ask ourselves critical questions about what we can do. For example: What can you do to make sure parents can attend conferences and school activities? Am I making false assumptions about my students? What impacts am I/my class making about my community?

18. Cups Held Out • This book is about a young girl and her father who cross the border into Mexico where the child encounters poverty for the first time. Together they ponder the question, "What can we do about poor people?" Should they put money into every outstretched cup? Will buying a blanket make a difference? What about that shiny bike back home? • There are no pat solutions to the problem of poverty, but there is value in asking the question and searching for personal answers. Picture courtesy of bluffton.edu

19. Cups Held Out Cont. • This book opens discussion for parents and children ages 6 to 10 on responsibility toward the poor of the world. • As an educator we can use this book to work with our students and get them started thinking about how they can make a difference and help people living in poverty. • It is also useful for children to understand that even though they may not see people living in poverty. It is there and it does exist

20. Children & Poverty by Parin Waljee Rummaging through the garbage bin searching for a meal, she managed to get a burnt bread relishing her little fill. Unaffected by the unhygienic condition running towards a vegetable cart picking a half eaten banana her dessert for a start. Her siblings eagerly waiting hoping for a hearty meal. but their sister who had long gone by was thinking about the muffins she could steal. Finally she had done it! warm hot loaves in her tiny hands crossing the road hurriedly she served her little family by giving them food to eat. Picture courtesy of Newsday.com

21. Children & Poverty cont. • This poem could be used to help children start thinking about what some of their classmates might be going through. • Could help them understand how hard living in poverty could be. • Students could reflect on how they might feel if they were in that situation.

22. 3 Types of Citizens (Westheimer) • The Personally Responsible citizen in this unit would donate and volunteer when asked, but would not put forth much effort by own motivation. • The Participatory citizen would get involved in community affairs as well as state and national with more motivation. • The Justice Oriented citizen would begin to fight for those in need and seek out social justice for them.

23. References • http://www.globalissues.org/issue/2/causes-of-poverty • http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/overview • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty • http://www.tolerance.org/blog/addressing-poverty-bias-classroom • http://judithlroth.wordpress.com/tag/cups-held-out/ • http://www.helium.com/items/2288077-poverty • Children Making a Difference: Developing Awarenessof Poverty Through Service Learning by KATHY R. FOX • Berentstain Bears Think of Those in Need by: STAN AND JAN BERENSTAIN • http://www.civicsurvey.org/what_kind_of_citizen.pdf