EDU 601 / Critical Issues in Education

Facing
Poverty in Education
On Thursday, Sept. 19th, 2013, I shared an article and led an activity with the ______________
High School Special Education Department in our monthly meeting. The article focused on the thinking
characteristics associated with generational poverty as referenced by Ruby Payne in her (2013) book on A

Framework For Understanding Poverty 5th Ed. Payne recognizes that poverty effects not only academic
proficiencybut how students view goal-setting, working through challenges, and managing tasks that lead to
learning. In leading the discussionmy goal was to connect with my colleagues so that shared meaning would
produce changed thinking resulting in elevated responses to students. In this confidential setting, my
strategy was to profile my experiences with a few select students of povertyreferring to them by name.
As human beings, when we hear a familiar name our first response is to visualize a face. That was my
strategy. Say the names. The faces will remain.

Thinking Characteristics Associated With Generational Poverty

Constant high levels of background noise

Overvaluations of entertainment as a respite from the exertions of
survival
Strong belief in destiny or fate because choices are low in supply
Sense that time is not for measuringit occurs only in the present
The future exists only as a word

Payne, R. (2013). A framework for understanding poverty. (5th ed.). New York: aha! Process.

Robin,
Thank you for sharing that article with the department today. It was a nicely needed reality check. We sometimes
get so wrapped up in things that we forget to stop and think about our students life experiences and the affect that the
things we do or say as teachers have on them. You have also got me reflecting on my own past experiences. I
remember a teacher in our office saying, "You won't believe what ____ said. Out loud. To the entire class! I can't
believe she just openly said that!" I am now wondering if I shared any of my experiences with my teachers. At the
time I didn't think I was living life any different than anyone else in my school. So why not share the story about my
aunt being hauled off by the police at my birthday party, right? At that time I thought that was how life was. I guess
you have to live it to understand it. But, even living it I have forgotten to be more understanding. Hopefully your
article is able to reach out to people who have not lived it and remind those who have.
Dept. Chair
Sept. 19, 2013
Quoted with permission