...Education and Poverty in America Historically, education has been considered the “great socioeconomic equalizer” of American society, allowing all children an equal opportunity to succeed. Furthermore, a high-quality education is considered both a human and civil right however, educational experiences for children living in poverty continue to be substantially separate and unequal. In the United States, poverty is a common social, political and economic issue that has troubled Americans for years. Despite being better off today nearly 50 million Americans, including more than half of which are children currently live in poverty. In his poem, “Cause I Ain’t Got a Pencil,” Joshua T. Dickerson describes the damaging effects poverty has on...
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...Poverty…. which is defined as the state of being extremely poor. There are two types of poverty that are known, absolute and relative poverty. Absolute poverty is lacking the need of food and shelter, which is necessary for a person to survive throughout life. And relative poverty is those who are stable, but lacking the needs of most Americans because of their financial status. There are many reasons that cause poverty. For example, loss of job and not being able to find work. But many Americas believe that poverty is caused by the poor, because of the belief that you can do anything in America. Poverty can cause health problems for children growing up also. Things such as chronic stress, and experiencing difficult things throughout childhood...
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...Section 1: Growing up in poverty Poverty is everywhere, It is in every race and every country. A child that grows up in poverty is largely at risk because he or she may speak another language, or be less healthy, or has even been abused in one way or another. When children are in the school system and they are labeled “at-risk” and that means that the student comes from a low-socioeconomic level or speaks another language. Today, there are more single parents, dual earner couples, and parents with more than one job living in both rural and urban areas in the United States than at any other time in history. Statistics show there is approximately one in five American children who live below the national poverty level (Causes of Poverty). In today’s society, many people live below the poverty line and those numbers continue to increase because of our high unemployment rates. The Census Bureau reported that 12% of Americans live in poverty. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the poverty level in 2009 for a family of four was $22,050. With today's unfortunate down turn of events in our economy, many families struggle to earn and still do not come close to that level. Welfare reform in the United States may pressure single mothers to be gainfully employed even though child care is extremely expensive and the mother may only have an income of minimum wage. At-risk children face so many seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The children who are from economically...
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...Poverty and Its Effect on Children Samuel Meraz SOC100-146 Prof. Steward July 27, 2014 Poverty and its effect on children We think of poverty, and our first thoughts are lower income, crime, and living conditions. We think of areas of our cities and towns that we all try to avoid and the crime that these areas are infamous for. But, do we ever think of the children that live in poverty? How about the effects of growing up in poverty? Put yourself in their shoes, think about how it would affect you if you had grown up scared to go outside, or going to bed hungry. We will look at some of the causes and effects as well as possible ways to assist these children in improving their chances at a better future. Poverty is when a person or family lives with an income of less than the poverty line set by the government. In 2014, the poverty threshold for a family of four is $23,850 in 48 contiguous states and the District of Colombia (HHS, 2014). When broken down that is less than $6,000 per person in the family. Imagine that for a second; that is annual income. “About one in five American children-some 12 to 14 million” live below the poverty threshold (Brooks-Gunn/Duncan, 1997). Basic needs for these children are not met on a daily basis, things like clothes, food, and decent shelter are not available. Their education suffers from living in these conditions. Children living in under the poverty line are more likely to be dropouts of school, or repeat a grade, than children living...
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...Tiffany Shelby Annotated Bibliography Capella University Cohen, R. (Ed.). (2002). Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Letters from children of the great depression. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. The editor provides a context and elaborates on the meaning of nearly 200 letters written to Eleanor Roosevelt by children and youth experiencing the hardships of the Great Depression from 1933-1941. The young people request individual assistance, explain why their families are unable to provide basic necessities, and justify the worthiness of their requests. The poignant letters provide some insight into hard-working families during this period who either have no employment, work part-time, or work at low-paying jobs. Children and youth plead with Mrs. Roosevelt for clothing; for money to ward off evictions, pay debts, and purchase simple household conveniences; for funds for educational expenses, Christmas gifts for family members, marriage and new household expenses, bicycles to help their families, and for radios to ameliorate loneliness. The letters attest to the courage, tenacity, and intelligence of youth who had few resources, but hoped for better lives during this era. The editor also clarifies Mrs. Roosevelt and her staff’s responses to the letters. Only 1 percent of youths received the material assistance they requested. About 5 percent were told by Mrs. Roosevelt’s staff to seek help from New Deal agencies, 3 percent were directed toward charities, and...
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...Though, one can only allude to the government benefiting more than the American people; and as a result, people’s reaction to this has dampened their beliefs on the ‘American Dream’ of liberty, security, and equality. In spite of this, are these problems curable? Do we know the root cause of the problems? If so, the solution to fix it is simple, right? Or has the government purposely not defined the root cause of the problem in order to have a certain group of people dependent...
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...2013 Professor Long Poor Living Conditions Affects Children While most people live their day to day life, there are some children living in poverty. Living in these types of living conditions can influence the mental health of a child. Children living in poor quality environments can be a lasting effect on their life. Adults are often affected by poor living conditions because of the financial strain on them; not being able to provide for their families. Children will be affected differently than adults; kids are easily influenced until they reach adulthood. Of course, children learn how to act and behave form where they grew up. Influences come from older kids and adults in the area. Crime and abuse in poorer environments can cause children to develop social inabilities will have an unclear views on their adult life. Depression is a typical result of growing up in a place full of negativity and where schools may not have the best surroundings for a better outlook on life. Poverty affects a child’s growth and educational outcomes in their early years. School is a child’s way to profit and gain knowledge to escape from poverty to maintain a better life. Poverty is a continual problem throughout the world and has extreme impact on just about all aspects of life and outcomes for children. Poverty limits the chances of educational achievement and this is one of the primary tools to escape poverty. The definition of poverty is the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient...
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...the last nine weeks this course has taught me about different social problems that our society live in, but tries to cover it up by pushing it under a rug. Although I know our society has issues, I just didn’t think of them in this way since starting class and doing the research we’ve done, have taught me so much. Many of society issues are social inequality, poverty, urbanization, discrimination against race, and culture. When learning about these issues, I’ve decided to do my paper on Poverty and Children in the United States. Poverty within the United States has become a major issue that affects our society and at hand families with children are coming face to face with this issue every day of their life. Poverty has become a major issue in our society today due to the result of our economy and the decision that one makes in life. And sad to say when the economy is always on the defense at failing, the children of our society have to pay a high price. There’s many reason and factors that can be related to one’s poverty. Some factors that can take place to which can place a child at poverty could be, single parent, unemployment, homelessness, abuse, or mother having more kids she can take care of. Over time history shows that poverty in the United States has raised a great deal. Many of us can’t even imagine how it feel to live in poverty, even if it’s looking us right in our eyes, we still try not to picture ourselves in that place. Poverty means can range from so much, and...
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...Giovenco Political Science Inequality Paper 12-18-14 The Effects of Wealth Inequality in the United States Wealth inequality in the United States has grown tremendously since 1970. The United States continuously reveals higher rates of inequality as a result of perpetual support for free market capitalism. The high rates of wealth inequality cause the growing financial crisis to persist, lower socio-economic mobility, increase national poverty, and have adverse effects on health and well being. There is no doubt that wealth inequality in America has been escalating quickly; the portion of total income earned by the top one percent has doubled since the beginning of the 1970’s. The wealthy are the main beneficiaries regarding income inequality. In the latest consensus of wealth distribution, the top one percent of Americans owned thirty five percent of the nations private wealth, and the top ten percent took home about fifty percent of all income in 2012. This figure is greater than the bottom 90 percent combined. The question commonly asked concerning this matter: How and why is this becoming so quickly unequal is to be examined. First, we must explain what is meant by the term “wealth.” Wealth is the collection of the assets people own. This includes homes, stocks, savings for pension, and bank accounts, minus all existing debts. The main issue regarding wealth inequality is income inequality. Income equality has grown increasingly in the past 30 years. The top one percent...
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...Poverty and Welfare on Childhood Obesity1 Poverty and Welfare on Childhood Obesity Paul D Stasiak Self Study Childhood obesity has become a growing concern in the eyes of many Americans, yet not every parent can identify if their child or one they care for is overweight. Understanding dietary intake for our children is a very important. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), childhood obesity has more than doubled and young adult obesity has quadrupled in the last 30 years (p. 1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define being overweight as having an excess body weight for a given height, specifically as having excess body fat. The number of obese children today is higher than it has been in the past. However, times are changing and the fast food companies are growing more and more popular each and every day. This paper will examine the research which states that a child is more likely to be obese as an adult if they were obese all throughout their adolescent years and poverty’s effect on childhood obesity. According to Feeding America (2013), 45.3 million Americans were living in poverty (p. 1). This number is very high considering the 318.9 million that are living in America. The unemployment rate in January of 2015 was 5.7%. As a result of unemployment or living in poverty conditions, some families have resorted to buying less expensive food options for their children in order to...
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...Harsh Damages of Poverty and Possible Solutions As the increasing number of individuals affected by the consequences of poverty become more detrimental to society, the need for an assertive set of solutions becomes crucial. Poverty imposes major issues on all members of society, specifically children and families. Improving these scarce conditions can be considered both an opportunity and a responsibility placed on individuals within each community. While those who are fortunate may never fall victim to the issues caused by poverty, these individuals and their cooperative participation remain vital to a societal victory over poverty. Also, poverty, although it only affects some, is always considered a dangerous threat to humanity due to numerous aspects of life it can destroy or harm. In conclusion, it is necessary to create general solutions that will improve and benefit the lives of millions, while also tailoring these resolutions to target the particular concerns it poses to all groups separately. Poverty causes harsh damages to many groups and aspects of society; therefore it is vital for our nation to help the 44 million people who are unable to meet their basic needs. For example, the 1.4 billion people in our world who are currently living in extreme poverty live on less than $1.25 a day. This buys no more than basic food, clean water and enough cooking fuel to produce two simple meals (Moss). Having this issue during the recession causes a deep impact on both the...
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...4, 2013 Effect Cause Paper Illiteracy The society, the American economy, many people’s health, and even the justice system are all affected by illiteracy. The lack of the ability to read and write has a huge impact, one way or another, on the everyday life of every person. Twenty percent of the American population is functionally illiterate, which means they cannot read at all or they read below the fourth grade reading level. It is important to make sure as many people as possible are able to read and write to be able to complete all necessary daily activities, both at home and at the work place. A person needs to be able to read and write to fill out job applications, follow rules and directions, and maintain financial records. Some of the common causes of illiteracy are poverty, the lack of literacy within the family, and learning disabilities. Due to poverty some children are needed to work outside of the home, to help compensate the family’s income, instead of being able to go to school to receive the education that is needed. Therefore, poverty leads to the lack of literacy within the family. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly twenty-two percent of all of the adults living in the United States scored below basic skills during an assessment in 2003 (“Illiteracy: The Downfall”). “Sixty years ago, most illiterate adults were people who were uneducated” (Kunerth). Today, learning disabilities are often the cause of illiteracy...
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...Abstract This research paper describes how poverty influences the lives of children and adolescents. Poverty is viewed as major environmental influence that impacts the opportunities and life chances of children. Young people growing up in poverty may feel justified in engaging in risky behaviors. The research shows how poverty has an effect on parenting, housing, food, health, mental well being, and education. Despite government programs that help many, the author of this paper views economic inequality as a major cause of the problems facing poverty and our nation. Poverty has a major influence on the day-to-day lives of children. It also places young people at risk for poor outcomes in life. At Risk Youth (McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, & McWhirter, 2013, p. 29-39) discusses the economic trend of poverty as one of the major environmental influences placing young people at risk. When one understands the problems of poverty, one begins to understand the people affected much better. McWhirter et al., (2013) presents several “types” of families that may live in poverty. These include the working poor families, vulnerable and underserved families, young single mother families, and homeless families. One interesting concept that the book discusses is social comparisons. Today poor people are faced with constant reminders of their lack of money. By watching television shows that popularize the lives of “the rich and famous” and by seeing the income earned...
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...that affect Americans. The primary symptoms of anxiety disorders are fear and worry but they are also characterized by emotional and physical symptoms. There are several different types of anxiety disorders. They can include Panic Disorder, Phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorders (Northern Lakes, 2009). There are many different factors that play a role in the cause of anxiety disorders. Heredity, brain chemistry, personality, and lifestyle are contributing factors of anxiety disorders. Evidence exists that shows that anxiety disorders run in families. The genetic link between family members as well as the behaviors one learns when growing up around people who suffer from the disorder may be a direct correlation between anxiety disorders and family traits. Since anxiety disorders are often relieved by medications that altar chemical levels in the brain, scientists believe that brain chemistry must play a role in the onset of anxiety disorders. Lifestyle can also contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. Long-term exposure to abuse, violence, and poverty may increase a person’s vulnerability to these disorders. Results of this type of lifestyle often lead to a person having low self-esteem and poor coping skills (UMM, 2008). Viewing anxiety disorders from a biological perspective can explain why brain chemistry contributes to the onset of these disorders. The brain has many parts and...
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...E2 6 May 2011 Homelessness/ Poverty in the United States A very important issue in our country is homelessness and poverty. This is important because poverty and homelessness have psychological effects on individuals. We can see this issue in Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle because the Walls family is always moving around. Homelessness affects your appearance severely. The Walls family doesn’t have enough food to go around. Research shows that the rate of homelessness and poverty is high. The government is trying to reduce the rate of homelessness and poverty. Many Americans have gone through poverty or will go through poverty at some point in their life. In my paper, I will attempt to inform you that homelessness and poverty is a topic which should be taken seriously. Homeless ness and poverty have psychological effects on individuals. In website http://ic.galegroup.com, homeless in the United States swelled for a variety of reasons during the 1800s. Such examples are: migration to the frontiers; displacement caused by the Civil War; immigration from Europe; seasonal employment in agriculture; construction, and mining. This is important because these are some causes of homelessness. Isn’t sad to know that there are so many reasons why there are homeless people out there? In 1929 the Great Depression triggered a new wave of homelessness, as many people lost their jobs. This is important because the Great Depression is yet another cause of homelessness! To address the...
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