Chapter 8

Chapter 8  Poverty and Socioeconomic Class

These two subjects are so interconnected and sad at the same time.  Ruby Payne did and excellent job of making some of the stories that many of us never see, relatable.  She explained in a manner that I had not thought of before I read her book.  To think that so many of our children come to school everyday just to have a safe, comfortable place where they can get a meal is a sad statement on our “richest nation in the world” status.  And after they have those needs met, we expect them to learn and behave in class.  We have had some homeless families come to our school after someone had found them a place to stay.  If we have currently homeless families, I am unaware of it but then, they wouldn’t advertise that they were in that condition.

            Every year I have a few students who fall asleep in the classroom.  Do I wake them up?  No, I usually can figure out the reason behind it.  Some of the stories they will share and others will not.  I have hear how they had to sleep in the only bed with mom and she was staying up watching TV most of the night so it wasn’t important to her to let them go to sleep.  There were many other stories that you hear as well.  I have made the late night run to the grocery story, Walmart, etc. and seen countless kids out at that time who should have been in bed.  These children live difficult lives so if they fall asleep at school, I usually let them.  My thinking is that if they need sleep that badly, then let them because they will learn more when they wake up and can pay attention.

            I don’t look to see what socio economic group my students might live in but it is readily apparent by how many times they wear the same shirt over the course of the week.  At my school if they need a change of clothes or to have them washed while at school, we have the facilities for that.  We also collect clothes, which are given to needy children throughout the school year.  If my kids need a snack and do not have anything with them, I always keep extra.  A hungry brain is not a working brain.  We also have a local church that packs food bags for some of the students to take home each weekend so that they get something to eat over the weekend.  Students who come to us hungry, cold, tired, and dirty deserve as much care in their education if not more.  I try to treat each child fairly.  Sometimes that can be difficult because they may strike out because of one or more of these conditions being an ongoing thing that takes its toll on their young lives.  I also try to be firm but understanding at these times.

Question:  What do you do if a student is “striking out” at you and you are pretty sure it is because one of their basic needs is not being met?  How do you keep them focused on learning in these situations?