Poverty

So why is everyone so surprised that more of our country’s children are “in” poverty? According to the recently released study 1 out of 8 of our children are affected by poverty.

When the media recently announced the results of the Annie E. Casey Foundation Study may people referred to the strides made in the 90’s and expressed shock at the new results. That was a decade ago! Many teachers could tell you that many of their young students are suffering for a variety of reasons: parents do not have full time jobs, children are losing housing, medical aid, welfare income, and unemployment compensation to name a few. Much of this is because of decisions made at the state and federal levels. Perspectives are different perspective for those who do not work close to our young children. There appears not to be a large concern in Congress (federal and state) for prenatal, well baby, and child care funding or even education- let alone creating jobs! There has been an increase in the deaths of teens. Educational funding is deteriorating. Very recently and not as well publicized there was an honest survey released which showed that a more nutritious diet is more expensive.

School is starting in the next few weeks. Children are great at sensing if not verbalizing when there are problems in their lives. Sometimes this appears as worry, withdrawal, nervousness, acting out, mistrust, wariness, and lack of concentration. Teachers will notice that children are looking for attention and a comfortable, safe place to spend time, and more children (certified or not) will need extra help and support. Often times they are looking for an adult to listen and a feeling of consistency and caring. There will be more children getting free and reduced lunches. School districts will try with less funding, fewer professionals and/or support staff, and larger class sizes to support and give these children an education.

CBS Sunday Morning July 31, 2011 gave Tavis Smiley a forum to speak on poverty. He started with Martin Luther King Jr. words, “I choose to identify with the underprivileged, I choose to identify with the poor, I choose to give my life for …. Those who have been left out of the sunlight of opportunity.”
Mr. Smiley then proceeded to share the notion that in the last couple of elections candidates have rarely used the word poverty. I found this thought something to noodle around and become aware of. I realized that the word “poverty” puts a visualization of malnutrition, hopelessness, and devastation in the mind and a feeling of comfortableness in the heart.

Mr. Smiley is right, I very rarely hear the word poverty or poor come from a politicians’ mouth. Yet with the current social situations day to day poverty is affecting a larger and larger part of the social order. It is like a puddle that when fed grows across our country. From down here in the “grass roots” of our country, we know there is poverty. Pass the message on to our state and federal leaders.

From my point of view, children will be better prepared to become adults if we start at the beginning and break the poverty cycle as well as helping children be ready to start the school year, with a nutritious diet, a good night’s sleep, and clean clothes to be alert and ready to go. There is no surprise here: this is what a child needs to be free to learn. We have poverty and because of the situation of the adults around them more children will need some legs up. A healthy mind and body should be a right for all the children- not an entitlement.