Savannah Regis blog 3

Savannah Regis 

Blog 3 

1. On page 277, when he begins to talk about ways to improve the classroom he makes the point that it always starts with the teachers and that really stuck with me because its true, yes, having up to date technology, books and other resources is extremely important but it starts with a teacher engaging a student. A good teacher can make a student grow and learn in way they may not thought possible. When reading this passage I thought about my math class junior year of high school. I've always considered myself bad at math and just accepted that it was something I would never be good at, I honestly just gave up. After earning a D in geometry my sophomore year I was really checked out but I had a new teacher my junior year for Algebra 2, Ms. Sweeny. She was really the first teacher to make me feel like math wasn’t something I just had to "get through" but it was something I could actually do and be good at. I struggled at different points in the semester but she always took her time and was patient with all my questions, she truly changed me as a student that year and she was only 1 of the 5 teachers I had. She made my entire year better and showed me by going in with a clear head and confidence can make all the difference. Teachers like this would be critical in impoverished communities where student confidence is not high, we need teachers to not only help and push the students but help them develop the skills to build their confidence.  

2. In the passage "Putting the Brakes on Homelessness" (266), Abramsky states that " three in ten of America's homeless population had been in the foster care system at one point" (267), and that really shows what our foster system is lacking, guidance and stability. When they turn 18 they are far from prepared to join the real world, a lot of the time they have not been given the skills to go support themselves or the education to continue on with school. I support Illinois raising the age to 21 before all benefits are cut off and think other states should join but their needs to be more job training and life skill building in our foster system to better help these kids. I have always wanted to be a foster parent because I understand what a big issue it is for the state, if I could help one or two kids by giving them a loving, stable, more permanent home I would feel like I made a difference.  

3. On page 317, Abramsky discusses how as a society we need to do more to help people in poverty and remove the stigma of living in poverty. I completely agree with that, most people would not choose to live in poverty but that is the situation they have found there self in. We should help these people build the skills to improve their life and community, we have a responsibility to help our community members. A lot of times people look at poverty and homelessness as a personal problem but it is actually a societal problem. Poverty effects everything, the economy, housing, schools, crime rates, etc. By helping people who live in poverty we will improve aspects of our own life.