Poverty: A serious problem.

Cartoon Earth Shows Empty Pockets And Poverty. Royalty Free …

In our society today, poverty is among one of the biggest problems that places in America face, especially children that are trying to get an education. overty can lead to inadequate nutrition and healthcare, which can affect children’s cognitive development and ability to concentrate in school. Chronic health issues can also result in frequent absences, further disrupting education. It is important to recognize certain themes of poverty in education, as we must do our best to try and make the best of the situation for all students. It is clear that the student may be affected by a poverty stricken lifestyle, because of the lack of resources that are provided for the child. “Students experiencing homelessness have the right to enroll in school, even if they are missing paperwork that is normally required for enrollment, such as a birth certificate, proof of residence, previous school records, or immunization or other medical records. Homeless students have the right to enroll in their local school or stay in their school of origin, whichever is in their best interest. If attending their school of origin, they have the right to receive transportation to and from the school of origin” (Cai, J. (2020, July 27).

For this week’s lesson, I had to identify themes in both the documentary and the readings. I think the two prominent themes are struggle and resilience. Both present themselves within the life of poverty. The film looks at the challenges these young people have in getting a high school education and then follows them after they graduate to concentrate on the critical juncture when the school system dissolves and homeless youth struggle to find the community and support they need to survive and become self-sufficient. Throughout the film, the three students struggle as a result of the influence of the poverty around them. However the teenagers in the movie exhibit incredible resiliency and a strong will to finish high school in spite of enormous obstacles. They exhibit bravery and tenacity in overcoming a variety of challenges, such as trauma, poverty, and institutional barriers. (De Mare, A., & Kelly, K. (Directors). (2014).

In the article, Homeless Students in Public Schools Across America: Down but Not Out Links, struggle is seen throughout many examples in the article. In the article it says, “Geographically, three out of four homeless students live in cities (47%) and suburban areas (32%). In the 2018-19 school year, approximately 77% of homeless students lived in doubled-up or shared housing (i.e., temporarily sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or other reasons such as domestic violence); 12% lived in shelters, transitional housing, or awaiting foster care; 7% lived in hotels or motels, and 4% unsheltered (ex. living in cars, parks, campgrounds, temporary trailers) Cai, J. (2020, July 27).

Lastly, we were also asked to chose a book and a song based on the topic of the blog. The song that I think goes along with the theme struggle is the song “Rock Bottom” by Eminem. At 29 years old, Eminem talks about his own personal struggles with his life, and his own mental health. The book i felt that showed resiliance is thew book Wonder. This novel discusses a story about a boy, who at first struggles with bullying due to his facial features, rises up and becomes a good friend and a good person by staying resilient and persevering through his struggles. Both of these relates to the students in the documentary and the article because the students in the documentary had to struggle, whether it was personal, or a financial situation, just like how Eminem describes in his song, and also how the book describes Auggie’s life.

More info on books and song

wonder-r-j-palacio.html