A Framework for Understanding Poverty
By Ruby Payne
Previously when I had thought of poverty I had only considered the financial aspect. Payne’s text looks at all the different ways people can be impoverished. Poverty extends to emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems, role models, knowledge of hidden rules as well as financial poverty. After reading chapter one I realized that most people in poverty are lacking more than just money. The scenarios in chapter one all show people that are in poverty in more than one way. I think as educators it is important to remember that students of poverty may be lacking in resources other than just financial resources.
Another thing I found interesting that I would share with a colleague were the check lists that asked, “Could you survive in poverty? Could you survive in middle class? Could you survive in Wealth?” I was so surprised that I could not check very many boxes for poverty or wealth. Before I looked at the check list I assumed that being in the middle class I would have enough life skills to survive in poverty, middle class or wealth. After looking at the check lists I realize how different the survival skills are for each class.
One of the most interesting things Payne’s text discussed was the hidden rules of the middle class. Growing up in the middle class I take for granted that students know some of the middle class norms. It is important to remember that all of our students come from different back grounds and we must account for that with our unwritten rules and expectations.
When I read Payne's book I had the same insights or lack there of as you did. I thought that even though I was raised primarily middle class that I would still know about many of the items that were on the quizzes. I realize now that I should have known better considering the students I teach now are raised in a completely different environment than I was. I never really considered myself a city girl until I started teaching in a major farm community. I find it mind boggling how much more my students know than I do about animals, agriculture, and construction. Sometimes when they start talking I feel like they are talking in a different language. Even though their economic class level may be similar to mine, they still have very different life styles much like those in Payne's book with poverty. I need to be more aware and knowledgable about my students and their lives outside of school in order to better relate to them as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the Payne text, I began with the mindset of poverty only relating to money as well. I gained a great deal of information from the first chapter. It was very insightful the different scenarios of peoples poverty lifestyle. When I took the survey, I had a very difficult time answering the poverty and wealth questions. Based off the questions in the survey, I believe my cultural upbringing has now helped me better relate and build relationships with my students. This text has made it even more clear how important it is to get to know your students as well as their life away from school. Also, remembering the different backgrounds that are part of your classroom each and every day.
ReplyDelete