By: Avery Oquinn
What's the first thing you think when you hear the word poverty? Most people's minds would jump to homeless people begging for money on the side of the road. Well, what if I told you, 1 in 6 kids live in poverty compared to 1 in 8 adults. That’s 11.9 million impoverished children in the U.S. Poverty doesn’t just mean being homeless, Poverty can result from unemployment, underemployment, or working for minimum wage with no benefits, and its consequences extend beyond the inability to afford necessities. Like being “food insecure,” or not knowing where your next meal will come from. Parents send their children to school hungry, along with other disadvantages, both academic and otherwise.
In 2017, 18% of school-aged children were living at or below the federal poverty lines. These kids could be your peers, or your friends. When Hillgrove students were asked about how poverty could affect their peers, brady Martel said, “I imagine living in poverty has negative effects on the student's education. They probably have more stress and responsibilities than a normal kid.” that is true, it has been proven Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework, study, or engage in activities that helps equip them for success in school. A good education is what could help these kids rise out of poverty but many of them don’t get the chance to prove themselves. The dropout rate of high school students from low-income families was 7.2%, versus 3.9% for students from higher-income families. Coming to school benefits these kids, Brody bond said, “ Education helps to fix many of the other issues that can keep families in the cycle of poverty, a quality education supports a child's developing social, emotional, and communication skills.” so these students dropping out are giving up on their future often times to help their families by getting jobs or raising siblings.
There are ways we can fix these statistics, starting here at Hillgrove. When an anonymous student was asked what they thought was the best way to accommodate these students, they said, “There is no easy solution to helping families living in poverty, but awareness is an important first step.” another student said, “by teachers and students creating positive school environments, providing opportunities for academic growth, and teaching positive social behaviors, educators can help students in poverty find academic success.” Teachers creating safe positive environments for their students motivates them more to want to be the best version of themselves. Sometimes these students need extra help and teachers should be able and willing to give it to them. Just because these students don’t have the same resources as other kids doesn’t mean they should be treated differently. Many kids living in poverty are too ashamed to ask for help, so teachers making them comfortable and safe could help them succeed.
Growing up in poverty not only impacts a student's education but also it has negative impacts on their health, social, emotional and cognitive development, and behavior. Children born into poverty are more likely to experience a wide range of health problems, including poor nutrition, chronic disease and mental health problems. Due to limited access to health care, food and housing security, they are put under constant stress about where their next meal will come from or if they’ll still have a roof over their heads next week. These things can take a toll on a person's metal health, leading to anxiety and other mental health problems. No one deserves to live this way, constantly wondering. The government is consistently doing the bare minimum to help these families in need. Our communities need to come together and create a change for these students.
What's the first thing you think when you hear the word poverty? Most people's minds would jump to homeless people begging for money on the side of the road. Well, what if I told you, 1 in 6 kids live in poverty compared to 1 in 8 adults. That’s 11.9 million impoverished children in the U.S. Poverty doesn’t just mean being homeless, Poverty can result from unemployment, underemployment, or working for minimum wage with no benefits, and its consequences extend beyond the inability to afford necessities. Like being “food insecure,” or not knowing where your next meal will come from. Parents send their children to school hungry, along with other disadvantages, both academic and otherwise.
In 2017, 18% of school-aged children were living at or below the federal poverty lines. These kids could be your peers, or your friends. When Hillgrove students were asked about how poverty could affect their peers, brady Martel said, “I imagine living in poverty has negative effects on the student's education. They probably have more stress and responsibilities than a normal kid.” that is true, it has been proven Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework, study, or engage in activities that helps equip them for success in school. A good education is what could help these kids rise out of poverty but many of them don’t get the chance to prove themselves. The dropout rate of high school students from low-income families was 7.2%, versus 3.9% for students from higher-income families. Coming to school benefits these kids, Brody bond said, “ Education helps to fix many of the other issues that can keep families in the cycle of poverty, a quality education supports a child's developing social, emotional, and communication skills.” so these students dropping out are giving up on their future often times to help their families by getting jobs or raising siblings.
There are ways we can fix these statistics, starting here at Hillgrove. When an anonymous student was asked what they thought was the best way to accommodate these students, they said, “There is no easy solution to helping families living in poverty, but awareness is an important first step.” another student said, “by teachers and students creating positive school environments, providing opportunities for academic growth, and teaching positive social behaviors, educators can help students in poverty find academic success.” Teachers creating safe positive environments for their students motivates them more to want to be the best version of themselves. Sometimes these students need extra help and teachers should be able and willing to give it to them. Just because these students don’t have the same resources as other kids doesn’t mean they should be treated differently. Many kids living in poverty are too ashamed to ask for help, so teachers making them comfortable and safe could help them succeed.
Growing up in poverty not only impacts a student's education but also it has negative impacts on their health, social, emotional and cognitive development, and behavior. Children born into poverty are more likely to experience a wide range of health problems, including poor nutrition, chronic disease and mental health problems. Due to limited access to health care, food and housing security, they are put under constant stress about where their next meal will come from or if they’ll still have a roof over their heads next week. These things can take a toll on a person's metal health, leading to anxiety and other mental health problems. No one deserves to live this way, constantly wondering. The government is consistently doing the bare minimum to help these families in need. Our communities need to come together and create a change for these students.