Book Blog 2
1. Abramsky
(2013), points out that in 2010, 14,000 children in Chicago were consisted to
be homeless and unfortunately that number would continue to rise. By 2011, the
number had increased to 16,000 (p.101). As a teacher, I know how important it
is for children to have a stable living environment in order for them to be
successful at school. If they are homeless, how can we expect them to have a
desire to learn, when they have other things on their mind? If we are going to
break the chain and decrease poverty, our government can’t forget about the
children.
2. Martin
Luther King Jr. stated the following “The ultimate tragedy is not the
oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good
people” (Abramsky, 2013, p. 126). This quote provides a great example as to how
individuals that are not living in poverty are not helping individuals who are
living in poverty. We may think there is nothing we can do to help others,
however like King stated, being silent is just as deadly as actually committing
a cruel act.
3. James
Kuzman, the principal of Rancho High School in North Las Vegas states the
following “At school there’s only so much kids can learn. What you learn from
most are your experiences” (Abramsky, 2013, p. 148). With this statement,
Kuzman brought up an excellent point, in that if we expect children to learn,
we need to provide them with different experiences. If as a child, the only
experience they have is living in poverty, how can we expect them to want to
live differently? It is our government’s job, to provide children with the
opportunity to live above the poverty line, and by providing children with that
experience, they will then have a stronger desire to live above the poverty
line as an adult.
Reference
Abramsky, S.
(2013). The American way of poverty: How the other half still lives. New
York, NY: Nation Books
Good post. I agree that all of these are things that stuck out to me. It is sad that amount of parents who do not teach their kids at home as you discussed in #3, if the parents expect to learn they have to teach them and they have to live by example. IF they want their kids to succeed, they need to have the desire and drive to prosper with them around so they can see that you can do anything if you pout your mind to it.
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