RUNNING HEAD: OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Overcoming Poverty in Education

Megan Hanson
Waxahachie Global High School

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Table of Contents
Abstract
3
Introduction
.4
How far does poverty
reach?.......................................................................................................4
What is
poverty?............................................................................................................
..............4
The debilitating effects of poverty and how to overcome
them5
Our
responsibility
..6
Overcoming the
effects
.6
Conclusion
7

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

References
..8

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Abstract
It is no secret that a large portion of our world today is in the throes of poverty. Organizations all
over the world are working to end this crisis, but there is a desperate need of not only an end to
poverty, but a way to combat the effects of those whose lives have already been altered by it.
Research has shown in many different ways that poverty physically affects the composition and
structure of the human brain. Such as in the 2008 research study, Changes in gray matter induced
by learning, and the 2004 study, The environment of childhood poverty. (Driemeyer, 2008)
(Evans, 2004) Not only can these effects of poverty be overcome, it is the responsibility of our
public school system to aid these children in overcoming their situations.
Keywords: Poverty, Effects, Brain, Environment

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Introduction
As human beings, we are made up of many things, and there are countless factors and
variables that shape us into person we ultimately become. One of the most significant of the
factors that play into who a person becomes is how they were raised throughout childhood and
adolescence. In our world today, it is impossible to ignore the scores of people, both in the
United States, and other nations around the world, to whom poverty is a reality. For many, it is
the only reality.
How far does poverty reach?
Research has proven time and time again, that not only is poverty widespread in a global
sense, but the effects are widespread and debilitating in an individual sense. We can work
nonstop improving our educational system with the latest technology, and systems, but until we
address this issue, which is at the heart of most other educational issues, our efforts will be in
vain. This essay attempts to explain the physical and mental effects of poverty on the mind of the
children it affects and the ways our education system can combat these effects for the purpose of
helping our children succeed.
What is Poverty?
Poverty, according to Eric Jensen, is A chronic and debilitating condition that results
from multiple, adverse, synergistic risk factors and affects the mind, body, and soul. (Jensen,
2009) This definition of poverty is one most of us are not used to, and frankly, are not too
comfortable with. For a long time, we have seen poverty as something that only affects a person
in their current situation, with little to no carry over into their future. Research, however, has
shown that this is simply not the case. Studies, such as one on the disadvantages of neighborhood

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

and stressful life events on urban elementary school children, show us how chronic and lifealtering the effects of poverty can be. (Attar, B.K., Guerra, N.G., & Tolan, P.H., 1994) In order to
combat these effects, we must first understand them and the specific way they alter the people
they impact. The four primary risk factors afflicting families living in poverty are emotional and
social challenges, acute and chronic stressors, cognitive lags, and health and safety issues.
(Jensen, 2009) Not only do these risk factors directly affect the well-being of the child, they also
affect the way the child learns and interacts in an educational setting. Therefore if we truly want
to effectively educate, we have to help our nations children to overcome the negative
consequences of living in chronic poverty.
The Debilitating Effects of Poverty & How to Overcome Them
In the homes affected by poverty, parents are typically overworked, stressed, less
nurturing, and scholastically unable to assist in homework even if they wanted to. So what kind
of effect does this have on the children involved? For one, it takes a gigantic toll on their
emotional health and their ability to mentally cope with stress and academic rigor. With all the
issues going on their home life, from financial stress, and worrying where their next meal will
come from, to being abused, the child simply has no ability or desire to learn. Even more than
that, most never get the chance to learn because they are absent so much of the time. Another
way to realize the truth behind this concept is to examine Maslows Heirarchy of Needs. This
pyramid, which outlines the needs of humans and their priority levels, has a lot to do with this
topic. It states that before a person can attempt to meet a need on the level of self-actualization
(learning, creativity, problem solving, morality), they must have all physical and safety needs
met (shelter, food, security, health). If you were homeless, living underneath a bridge, how
concerned would you be with memorizing the Pythagorean theorem?

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Our Responsibility
Therefore, if any attempt is to be made to educate their minds, we must also be attempting to
secure these children in whatever other areas they may be lacking in order for them to be
successful. While we cant rescue all children from their living conditions and remove them
completely from the reach of poverty, we can definitely address the issue in our public school
systems. What is the objective of forcing a child to attend school 5 days a week, but to educate,
inspire, and provide them with the skills they need to be successful in their lives? Our schools
success cant be measured in test scores, disciplinary records, and the like. While these factors
are tempting to pay attention to because of their ability to be measured and compared, these
arent the true goals of the Public School System, or they shouldnt be, at least. Most of the time,
the variables we try to manipulate to make our schools more successful (standardized test scores,
disciplinary records, etc) are only symptoms of the deeper problem; poverty.
Overcoming the Effects
Now that weve successfully defined the problem, the next step is to outline some
possible solutions. What are the ways our school system and the way we teach can adapt to better
facilitate the learning abilities and equip them in areas poverty would otherwise disable them?
For instance, many children in poverty-stricken homes are unable to effectively communicate or
relay information and feelings. A way to combat this issue would be to weave throughout the
curriculum and schooling years work and exercises to increase their proficiency in this area.
Another example is basic skills necessary to run a home or finances, skills they would normally
learn from their parents, but most likely wont. Balancing checkbooks, running a budget,

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

cooking, family care, and other practical skills would be a great asset to children coming from
these difficult backgrounds. Working in a wide array of social skills and practical skills to the
curriculum that the child would not otherwise attain would be a life-changing benefit to many
children.
Finally, one of the most important things we need to focus on if we are going to affect
change in kids lives is a genuine care on the teachers part. So many have no real role models to
look up to at home, and are rarely shown that they are truly loved, valued, and respected as a
person. If a teacher would only show a little love, kindness, and patience, it could drastically
change the students perspective not only on education, but on life in general.
Conclusion
What Im trying to say here is that we would benefit from less of a sterilized, cut and dry
approach to education, and more of a connection and caring atmosphere so we can truly change
these kids for the better. It is a well-known, but true saying by Zig Zigler that People dont care
how much you know, until they know how much you care. It is vital that we recognize the
problems, and do our best to educate in spite of them. We must implement solutions that directly
combat the effects of poverty and empower those affected to rise above those effects, but we
must do it with love.

OVERCOMING POVERTY THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

References
Jensen, E. (2009). Teaching with poverty in mind: What being poor does to kids' brains and what
schools can do about it. Alexandria: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Evans, G. (n.d.). The Environment Of Childhood Poverty. American Psychologist, 77-92.

Driemeyer, J., Boyke, J., Gaser, C., Bchel, C., May, A., & Eagleman, D. (2008). Changes in
Gray Matter Induced by LearningRevisited. PLoS ONE, E2669-E2669.

Attar, B., Guerra, N., & Tolan, P. (n.d.). Neighborhood disadvantage, stressful life events, and
adjustment in urban elementary-school children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 391-400

Poverty Facts and Stats. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2015, from
http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

Payne, R. (2005). A framework for understanding poverty (4th rev. ed.).

Highlands, Tex.: Aha! Process.

Gorski, P. (n.d.). The poverty and education reader: A call for equity in many
voices.