Matthew Lynch: The Academic Consequences of Poverty

Poverty impacts students and academic achievement, writes Matthew Lynch, and teachers need to be aware of its role in the classroom.

Poverty is a major problem in the United States. The middle class seems to be disappearing and the gap is widening between the upper class and the lower class sectors of society. The socioeconomic status of children and their families has a profound effect on the children’s education, even in a country that prides itself on equal opportunity and fair treatment of all. Socioeconomic status can be determined by one’s level of education, occupation and income. A high socioeconomic status is characterized by a high level of education, and a high status occupation, and a high income. A low socioeconomic status is typified by a lower level of education, a job of low prestige and a low income.

Matthew Lynch

While unemployment is a factor for some, there are many who are employed and still live below the poverty line. The problem is that post World War II, good paying jobs were easy to find in factories and manufacturing. A person who graduated from high school could easily find a good-paying job and support their family. Now things are very different. Many of our manufacturing jobs have been farmed out to countries where cheap labor can be found. A higher level of education is needed for high paying jobs that can support a family. It is difficult to support a family with a minimum wage job, even when working full-time.

Contrary to what many believed possible in the past, education has not been able to eliminate poverty. Schools have not been designed to properly serve poor children. They reflect and promote a middle-class way of life. Educator Ruby Payne has researched and written about poverty and how schools can better support children living in poverty. She discovered the middle class is driven by achievement and work, while the driving force behind the generational poor is survival first, followed by entertainment and relationships. As a result, teachers who attempt to motivate students through work and achievement may have to alter their approach when working with students who live in poverty. Students from poverty backgrounds do not understand middle-class rules. Their level of motivation will most likely be influenced by a relationship with the teacher or other adults in the class.

What other challenges do impoverished children experience? They often come from homes that are not adequate in terms of shelter and may be in very dangerous communities. In their neighborhood, they may be exposed to drugs, violent crime and prostitution, and may turn to these types of activities themselves at an early age. Parents of children living in poverty often struggle to provide them with enough quality food and medical coverage.

Children living in poverty often come to school without having had enough sleep, and without having had breakfast. They often experience family violence, abuse, secondhand smoke, neglect, poor clothing and shoes. Even though they have limited experience in the world, they may not be able to pay for field trips and cannot pay for extracurricular activities of any kind that could actually expand their experience base. This is the frightening reality for millions of children, and teachers are very likely to have impoverished students in their class. Teachers need to consider what that means and how they can reach out to these students and help them excel.

Dr. Matthew Lynch is an Assistant Professor of Education at Widener University. Dr. Lynch is the author of three books; It’s Time for Change: School Reform for the Next Decade (Rowman & Littlefield December, 2012), A Guide to Effective School Leadership Theories (Routledge February 26, 2012), and The Call to Teach: An Introduction to Teaching (Pearson 2013). Please visit his website at www.drmattlynch.com for more information.

Comments

Teacher With A Brain

March 9, 2012 at 4:02 pm

This is the tip of the iceberg. There is more, but this is a beginning.

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Dr. Dapo

March 9, 2012 at 4:13 pm

I concor 100%. Poverty is a big problem for a nation that is preoccupied with war. America must go towar rathern than feeding and educating the people. Americans in large number live with ignorance which is virus. I work with students behind academically. The real problem is poverty. Parents having hard time making ends meet. Parents having hard time providing breakfast for kids in the morning in a nation considers itself the greatest. We are doomed if we failto provide for the people. Poverty is the problem. I say this very quickly–war is an abomination. War must stop. We must–I mean the US must return home to rpovide for the people. Poverty is evil in the land of plenty.

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tiredteacher

March 9, 2012 at 4:37 pm

i think the most interesting thing you said was about how different people from the different groups approach situations, i notice that in my own work and will try to use that more in my attempts to motivate

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Matthew Lynch

March 9, 2012 at 8:05 pm

Thanks for the comments. The average American is too busy leading their day to day lives to notice the least among us. I am glad that you all get it.

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- Nesiah7
  
  March 14, 2012 at 5:13 am
  
  I worked at a new charter High School in New Orleans and immediately noticed the “disconnect” between the students and the teachers. When I offered a suggestion to the principal that the teachers and students get together and share where they come from, I was told that it doesn’t matter where or how the child is living because when they come to school they get to “experience” the ideal (college) life!? I told the principal that teachers who have managed to excel in life SHOULD NOT LOOK DOWN ON THE CHILDREN RATHER THEY SHOULD REACH DOWN TO THE CHILDS LEVEL AND PULL THEM UP TO THEIR LEVEL! It is imperative that teachers receive some type of cultural awareness education because without it they will never truly be able to reach our children.
  
  Reply
keith baker

March 9, 2012 at 10:42 pm

In developed nations, poverty is no more than the name of the low end of the income distribution. Nations that have used government policy to reduce income inequality have seen great reductions in the negative academic effects of poverty. The lesson learned is that curing poverty is not the schools job, it is the job of tax and welfare policies. Moreover, schools have shown they cannot much affect poverty but welfare policy not only fixes poverty, it also fixes the educational problems that arise from poverty. In short, more socialism, and less criticism of the schools is needed.

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The Academic Consequences of Poverty | International Education News | Renascence School International | Panama City | private preschool, elementary school, middle school

March 10, 2012 at 7:39 pm

[...] even in a country that prides itself on equal opportunity and fair treatment of all.”(more) Comments (0) Go to main news [...]

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students from pinas.

March 10, 2012 at 9:11 pm

i also experienced this kind of situation,i am a working student,work as well go to school,i really experienced hard times,lack of sleep,sometimes i mis my breakfast just to pursue my goal and to aim my education.,because i believe education is the greatest weapon that you can change the world by helping others,especially the poverty issue.Godbless

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Matthew Lynch: The Academic Consequences of Poverty : online degree diploma

March 17, 2012 at 7:54 pm

[...] Dr. Matthew Lynch is each Assistant Professor of Education at Widener University. Dr. Lynch is the former of three books; It’s Time in spite of Change: School Reform for the Next Decade (Rowman & Littlefield December, 2012), A Guide to Effective School Leadership Theories (Routledge February 26, 2012), and The Call to Teach: An Introduction to Teaching (Pearson 2013). Please visit his website at http://www.drmattlynch.com in spite of more information.Source [...]

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