Culture, Poverty, and Education : What's Happening in Today's Schools?

Most changes in education—including the rise of standardized testing, holding teachers accountable for their students’ academic performance, and rewriting math and reading standards—don’t address poverty. Understanding the relationship between poverty, class, and education for decades has been framed through studies on the behavior and culture of poor students and their families. Educators are caught up in the history of classism and are often guilty of buying into the mindset—including the implementation of activities and strategies for working with ‘parents’ in poverty or ‘students’ in poverty—that leads them to believe in the need to ‘fix’ the poor instead of eliminating the inequities that oppress them. So it is not just one or the other; nature or nurture, poor or not poor. Poverty is a potential outcome for all of us. Culture, Poverty, and Education: What’s Happening in Today’s Schools? is intended to not only discuss 5 myths about the culture of poverty and its effects on education, but provide some resources on alternatives for educator’s to better address this growing barrier to student achievement in today’s schools. Most Changes In Education Including The Rise Of Standardized Testing, Holding Teachers Accountable For Their Students Academic Performance, And Rewriting Math And Reading Standards Don T Address Poverty. Understanding The Relationship Between Poverty, Class, And Education For Decades Has Been Framed Through Studies On The Behavior And Culture Of Poor Students And Their Families. Educators Are Caught Up In The History Of Classism And Are Often Guilty Of Buying Into The Mindset Including The Implementation Of Activities And Strategies For Working With Parents In Poverty Or Students In Poverty That Leads Them To Believe In The Need To Fix The Poor Instead Of Eliminating The Inequities That Oppress Them. So It Is Not Just One Or The Other; Nature Or Nurture, Poor Or Not Poor. Poverty Is A Potential Outcome For All Of Us. Culture, Poverty, And Education: What S Happening In Today S Schools? Is Intended To Not Only Discuss 5 Myths About The Culture Of Poverty And Its Effects On Education, But Provide Some Resources On Alternatives For Educator S To Better Address This Growing Barrier To Student Achievement In Today S Schools. Three theoretical models on the culture of poverty Myth number 1 : poor people are unmotivated and have weak work ethic? Myth number 2 : poor parents are uninvolved in their children's learning largely because they do not value education? Myth number 3 : poor people are linguistically deficient? Myth number 4 : poor people tend to abuse drugs and alcohol? Myth number 5 : poverty has little lasting impact on children? The effects of poverty on the brain The culture of classism Stories of poverty Today's educator. "Intended to not only discuss five myths about the culture of poverty and its effects on education, but also to provide some resources on alternatives for educators to better address this growing barrier to student achievement in today's schools."