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.
Poverty truly does impact a students learning process! When given the proper supports and services the sky is the limit for these children. When we work together to help youth realize their potential and that they aren't "poverty" and poverty does not define them we can definitely help them to break the cycle that they live in.
ReplyDelete"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." I love what you said here, honestly so true and i agree with you.
ReplyDeleteA sentence that stood out to me was "We must realize that poverty is real for our youth and how it impacts both the development and learning". This is so accurate, if a child is living in poverty and comes to school hungry they aren't going to focus on school. I completely agree with you!
ReplyDeleteWhen you said "teachers use the label poor to explain why some of our youth are failing" i agree. It is easier for people to blame everyone else instead of stepping up and trying to be a positive influence.
ReplyDelete