LA Johnson/NPR
Poverty is a persistent and alarming factor in the current educational environment, affecting the educational experiences of numerous children around the globe. Even with great progress made in reducing socioeconomic gaps, poverty is still becoming a bigger issue in educational institutions across the world. Educational institutions are strongly affected by the growing economic disparities and the demand for social safety nets. The influence of poverty on a child’s academic performance and general well-being is evident, ranging from the lack of access to resources and technology to the widening of already-existing achievement inequalities. In this time of exceptional difficulties, it is critical to comprehend the complex dynamics at play when poverty and education interact to develop policies that effectively reduce poverty’s negative consequences and promote an atmosphere that is supportive of equal learning opportunities. (National Center for Homeless Education, 2022)
Although from my research given from this week’s lesson, I have discovered two themes that I feel fit the module’s articles and documentary around this growing poverty issue. The two main themes are hope and struggle. For one when exploring the documentary, multiple challenges were faced by students to either pass their classes and graduate high school or to get a career and start filling out college applications. Some challenges that some of these students faced were trying to find colleges that accepted unregistered and undocumented students, balancing work and school when trying to pass tests and good grades to be accepted in said colleges, or being able to be independent for themselves after years of having to rely on others for help. This is where the theme of struggle is most prevalent, hope on the other hand, many students want to pass their classes and get good grades. Most saw themselves as being able to get said grades even if they would have times when they would fall back and fail. (DeMare, Kelly, and Taber, 2014)
In Homeless Students in Public Schools Across America: Down but Not Out the theme of struggle is most prominent as it explains that 18% of homeless students were students with disabilities and About 16% of homeless students were English language learners. Disability in homeless and impoverished areas often hinder even more of the financial situation faced by these students. (Cai, j, 2020) Another thing to add is that children and teenagers who do not have “a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” are to be deemed homeless, according to the McKinney-Vento Act. Those who fall under this act are given special rights such as being able to obtain a free, suitable public education, register in classes right away, even in the absence of the paperwork typically needed for enrollment, miss any application or enrollment deadlines while experiencing homelessness and register in lessons and stay there until the institution obtains the necessary paperwork. This I feel shows hope as it allows this student to have a sort of even playing ground to enter and receive education. (Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education, 2021)
In this lesson, we were also asked to choose a book and a song that related to the themes we presented in this blog. I chose “The Student Poverty Song” by Hannah Dahn which is about students who are getting closer to being homeless and being unable to afford the things they used to, it also explains the high tuition rates in Nova Scotia leading to more students being unable to afford going to college (Dahn, 2011). For a book, I chose “Saturday at The Food Pantry” by Diane O’Neill which is about a child going to the food pantry for the first time and being insecure about it.
To learn more about the books and songs click below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr2LiQGrC7A
https://www.albertwhitman.com/book/saturday-at-the-food-pantry/
References:
Cai, J. (2020, July 27). Homeless Students in Public Schools Across America: Down but Not OutLinks to an external site.. National School Boards Association. https://www.nsba.org/Perspectives/2021/homeless-students
Dahn, H. (2011, February 10). The Student Poverty Song. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr2LiQGrC7A
De Mare, A., Kelly, K., & Taber, K. (Producers), & De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014). The homestretch [Streaming video]. United States: Bullfrog Films.
Mc-Kinney Vento Homeless Education. (2021). New York State Education Department. http://www.nysed.gov/essa/mckinney-vento-homeless-educationLinks to an external site.
National Center for Homeless Education. (2022). Student Homelessness in America School Years 2018-19 to 2020-21. Student Homelessness in America (ed.gov)Links to an external site.
O’Neill, D. (2021). Saturday at the Food Pantry (B. Magro, Ed.). Albert Whitman & Co.
