Poverty and our Youth

            After reading “Pathologizing the Poor: Implications for Preparing Teachers to Work in High-Poverty Schools” by Kerri Ullucci (2014), she claims the impact of poverty on our youth of today means they are no less intelligent or capable of succeeding, but rather, it is much more complicated. Most of those that are affected are Latinos or African Americans. Their lives are impacted by many variables such as environmental, health issues, transportation, and shelter just to mention a few. In our education system it seems that many teachers use the label POOR to explain why some of our youth are failing, that they have no support at home, and they have no parental interest. By taking this attitude it places the blame solely on the parent and child, and lessens the focus on the teacher. Teachers should learn or be taught to stop using this form of stereotyping and find ways to reach out to these youths in a positive influence.

                           In Ullucci’s conclusion the effect on our youth development space is to improve the educational content of the urban school systems. By doing so this would make teachers have a better handle on the children before them. It is important to tell the truth rather than sugar coat it. The development space first must take on a different approach on teaching and improving our youths’ experiences. We must realize that poverty is real for our youth and how it impacts both the development and learning, and after coming to terms with this, we must develop ways to improve it and services that can assist them. Looking at this I see myself working in a youth development program with all forms of poverty. To me, it doesn’t matter what race or sexual orientation you are, there is still that one thing that can connect us all; which is poverty. We need to work as a community and help our youth remove poverty from their futures. They were brought into this world on their parents low poverty status but as they become educated they can be the ones to break the cycle.


After reading this article I found a very interesting website about reducing poverty in our education. If you are interested in reading more click here.

 

 

 

Costello's Primary Supports

After reading Costello’s (2001) view on Primary Supports, when looking at Youth Development programs, it is important to address the concerns of the youth of today. The concerns of the youth from the past are much different than what affects the youth of today. The organizations that run these programs must bring new ideas and diversity to make these programs successful. To begin with, we must open our ears and listen (I mean really listen) to our youth. We must give them a voice on what concerns them in their everyday life and we must provide them with the needs to survive. We need to find out what their expectations are within the program and bring both young and old to the table. By doing this, it allows us to share ideas and also ways to meet the expectations within the program.

Organizations like 4-H and the BoyScouts, which are programs that have been around forever, may not meet the concerns or the needs of our youth in today’s world. Our communities differ depending on what town you live in. If you are from the inner-city, many of these young people have no idea what 4-H stands for or let alone even have a program available to them. Their purpose in life is just trying to survive life on the streets. Programs in these areas need to address their concerns and their safety. Organizations or youth programs need to first build a trust and build upon and provide services which include instructions, goals, and social skills that help build character for our youth. It is also important to give them a vision to their future. This could be provided by organizations having sponsors that are willing to give them an insight to prospective job opportunities for their future.

Digital Native or Digital Immigrant?

After reading Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants by Marc Prensky, I have come to realize that I am a mixed learner. I am a Digital Immigrant because half of my life I was taught and raised in the ways of reading and writing while the other half of my education, I was taught through technology. As I was growing up my education was technology free until I was in fifth grade. The growing of using computers and technology devices to teach students were booming fast in schools. To this day as a college student at Rhode Island College, I am just getting to learning how to use technology to help with my education. I may use blogs like this or make power points to show my understanding of a specific topic but I would rather prefer learning through reading from a book and taking my time. My nephew on the other hand is  a Digital Native. He was taught since he was a baby through technology and to this day learns and works better through his electronics. At the age of 9 years old, he is able to teach me how to use the computer more in depth than some college students. Each generation is slowly changing and as a community we need to learn to adapt to the new ways of learning since someday, technology might become the Digital Immigrant.

The ways technology can help me as a youth worker is realizing the different ways our youth learn. We think that all youth of today are growing up using technology but some youth don’t have that type of access. Some youth are not allowed to use technology for schooling or for their own enjoyment which makes them part of the Digital Immigrants. By being experienced as a Digital Immigrant and Native, I can help the different youths with their learning and education. Like Michael Wesch shows us in his video, technology is constantly growing and can help explore and learn beyond our wildest thoughts. This can help not only the Digital Natives but also help the Digital Immigrants learn, grow, and explore on how to become a Digital Native.

To help understand the difference between Digital Native and Digital Immigrant here is a fun video from Andy Tattersall that can help explain the difference between both these terms. Just click here to watch the video.

Response to the Youth In Action article

The article A World Where Youth Hold the Power by Adeola A. Oredola talks about the Youth in Action (YIA) program. This program is all about giving the teens and children of our communities the opportunity to speak their minds about their own education, community, and bring out their creativity. Many communities don’t give the children of our future generations a chance to express themselves in their own ways. Instead our children have to go by the rules and thoughts of their elders who are teaching them their everyday curriculums. This article brings many perspectives that the YIA program has brought to its alumni and recent members. All of their experiences have impacted their lives in one way or another.

The YIA model resonates with my experience as a youth because when I was in school, my ideas where basically my own ideas. They were never good for the teachers’ expectations that were wanted for the classroom activities. Growing up children were taught to learn in one form or way rather than being creative and finding other ways to solve problems within their academic learning. Today’s youth should have a bigger choice in how they learn and interact in their communities and education. It is their future that they are working on to become successful and independent adults. Why not give them a chance to explore who they are and what they can bring to the table to expand and help educate their fellow students but also the future students of tomorrow.

Teachers must be open minded to these students’ ideas not just to be heard, but to actually be listened to. Our opinions and suggestions are the foundation to bringing together both young and old. You don’t have to be correct but at least it affords the youth to express their ideas and open up the discussion to the floor; meaning the group.

About BJesus

Hello Everyone!

My name is Brittney-Ann De Jesus, and this is my fifth year being at Rhode Island College. Some people might ask why have you been in school for so long! Well it's because I switched my major from Elementary Education to Youth Development last Spring. Changing my major was the best thing I ever did. I have always wanted to work with children in schools but I also wanted to work with children in other types of environments. Throughout my high school years, I worked with the special needs children in my high school. I helped the teachers working one on one with the students and also helped the students with their inclusion classrooms. I wanted these children to feel comfortable and like every other high school student in the building.

 One of my major goals for my career is to work at Hasbro Children's Hospital or the Make A Wish Foundation. My mission in life is to make a difference and bring happiness to children as they grow up to be independent and successful adults in our community. I think my wanting to work with these organizations comes from my love of wrestling. I am a huge John Cena fan and he is one of the top celebrities for granting wishes for the Make A Wish Foundation meeting 400 and more wishes. I love to see these children smile and be happy that they got to meet their ideals. Seeing how happy these children get, made me realize I want to make a difference for them as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope to get a lot out of this class to further my career in this field.