Poverty and Teaching - Day 3

It needs to be understood at the outset that when discussing issues dealing with poverty and education that this isn't merely about how poverty impacts just one group of people. There are plenty of different racial groups who are impoverished in so very many ways and these groups can be found in desert or mountain regions or they are visible in both rural and urban areas. The point is...poverty is poverty.

Today I want to comment on one of two general areas dealing with poverty, that which takes place outside of the school building. We need to take a look at both the neighborhood and homes.

Impoverished neighborhoods or communities, when compared to those which are more affluent, are more likely to have a less developed socioeconomic structure. There are fewer libraries, poorer paying jobs, fewer job opportunities, infrastructure in need of repair or replacement. Impoverished neighborhoods will likely have fewer green areas, fewer playgrounds and there's every chance that such communities can be less safe particularly in urban regions.

It's not difficult to comprehend that such slights are harmful to the kids.

Poor communities or towns are certainly bound to have lower property values and are able to collect less in taxes. It's not hard to see how this affects the dollars available for schools and the children.

Tomorrow I'll talk about the manifestation of poverty inside of homes.

Dick