<p>Indeed, finding the right solutions is at the crux of the matter. I agree with essentially nothing of what mncollegemom has to say on this subject, other than that throwing money at problems is not the solution. I also agree with zoosermom that we are likely to always have an underclass. The presenting issue of this thread, however, is that the gap between the educated “haves” and the uneducated “have nots” is growing. How do we keep the underclass from growing? There are good reasons for all of us to care about this. </p>
<p>There are some youngsters who, due to the circumstances of their birth, have little chance of getting the education they need to succeed. That education could be a four-year degree or it could be certification in a field where there are employee shortages. Let’s not forget that we, as a society, might benefit from the perspectives of these young people who become contributing members of the educated class. If more and more poverty-stricken youth become noncontributing members, we are all in trouble.</p>
<p>I have an issue from the word “entitlement” in this context. It implies a privileged attitude, almost a haughtiness. That is different than an attitude of “I’ll take what I can get,” which is more to the point. Just using the word “entitlement” skews the issue against the impoverished and closes people’s minds.</p>
<p>I’ll jump in here, prematurely I might add, since I have only read to page five.</p>
<p>I could tell you a story about how I think my father was probably the poster boy for what some folks can do with limited resources, or a similar story about my husband, but I’m dure you’ve heard those stories before. </p>
<p>The anecdotal experience I had in finding college confidential is the one that always blows my mind. </p>
<p>I think most people would consider me well educated and well off, and so is my husband, but with slightly, but importantly different life experiences. When my D took the PSATs , her school informed her that she was getting some special recognition, something for “black people”, but they didn’t know much about it. This was told to us by the principal, while she was directing the carpool lane. My husband suggested she take an SAT course! </p>
<p>What?!? I said! ( " what you talkin’ about Willis? "). That seemed like such a strange idea! I could not believe people did that! So I did a google search, and found CC. </p>
<p>Not only do people take SAT classes, but there is a WHOLE WORLD here of people sharing information about college, and college admissions. And a whole world of people with experiences and perspectives almost alien to me! You could have knocked me over with a feather!</p>
<p>One more thing! I work with a lot of immigrant families, many who are poor, and parents don’t speak English. One of the things that stands out about thaws families is that often the WHOLE family comes to appointments! Mom, AND dad, and all the children. And as far as I can tell, both parents are working, albeit season work, related to what’s being harvested or processed.</p>
<p>Thank you, absweetmarie, redpoint, and shrinkrap. I was also shocked (and enlightened and a bit scared, to be quite honest, when I found this site.)</p>
<p>I used to have a poster of newborn infants, all in a line, of all different ethnicities and races. Some peaceful, others crying, some sleeping, all beautiful, all innocent, all full of potential. </p>
<p>No where did it indicate anything about the infants’ backgrounds,such as, baby 1’s parents are wealthy (worked hard and saved money), baby 2s parents are wealthy also (trust fund, inherited wealth), baby 3’s parents are middle-income (both teachers), baby 4’s parents are poor (dad was injured in the war, and mom is working to support everyone), etc. </p>
<p>Just beautiful, lovely infants … all deserving the best that our society has to offer. IMVHO.</p>
<p>Zooserman, your post is spot on, at least for me. When I worked in a residential unit, I wanted to take some of those girls home with me. This isn’t a financial focus, but environmental. </p>
<p>I met a wonderful lawyer in LA who bought Charlie Chaplin’s old house, and turned it into a residential home for teenage boys. They all go to school and share chores in the house. They have a computer room. Because of one inspired man, and other benefactors, these boys have been given a chance to succeed in life. It has been my dream to do the same for girls, but I’d need to win the lottery for that.</p>
<p>The best work experience I EVER had was with boys in a group home for nonviolent offenders. Sure, they took what they could get, but they never expected ANYTHING to be given to them. These kids were there for breaking parole with things like truancy.</p>
<p>Come on; how many kids do you know that go to juvenile hall for truancy? </p>
<p>Some had obvious ADHD, but laughed when I suggested I might be able to help. </p>
<p>One of the most memorable was a boy who liked to cook. He had a collection of old Gourmet magazines, and cooked for the boys in the house. A few families came and went, but no body wanted this 6 foot, 180 pound thirteen year old black boy who liked to cook, who staid at the RTC, not because of time he needed to serve, but because he had no where to go. Then the money dried up, and he had to go back to juvenile hall.</p>
<p>I’m glad to see so many here agree that it’s tragic when children aren’t given the opportunity they need to reach their potential. I wish that as a society, we could all recognize the enormous waste of this and make it a national priority to alleviate. I agree we’ll never eliminate poverty, but we can do better. It’s inexcusable in a nation with resources such as ours that the gap is widening. </p>
<p>Think of the cost of not developing our human resources. The child who never gets a chance may be the one who would’ve discovered a cure for Alzheimer’s. And many others have made the point that schools are cheaper than prisons.</p>
<p>I believe all children should receive an education that gives them the essential tools necessary to function as contributing citizens. And while I believe all should have a real opportunity for higher education, I don’t believe it’s a tragedy if all, or even the majority, do not avail themselves of that opportunity. Some kids already are going to college when they perhaps shouldn’t be. I know several kids in my son’s graduating class who are not academically inclined but they’re going to college (usually to lesser schools because of low gpa) because it’s what is expected in their socio-economic bracket and their parents can afford it. One friend of S’s I know would be happier at a trade school but that is considered “fail.” I wish we could raise the profile and respect (and in some cases, pay) in our nation for trades and “blue collar” jobs. We need people to do all kinds of jobs, and personally, I admire and need the guys who keep the city septic plant running properly much more than I admire the high rollers on Wall Street who are inventing new financial instruments. </p>
<p>I’ve heard some parents attempt to motivate their children with statements such as, “You’d better pay attention to your grades or you’ll end up driving a garbage truck.” I hate to hear work upon which we all depend so derided.</p>
<p>One vocation which has gained much more respect in my lifetime has been food trades, at least some of them. Farming, especially organic, is now trendy among young people. And culinary school is the one vocational school that parents at cocktail parties wil boast about their kids attending. I’m a foodie and I agree that growing and preparing food can be high art and deserves our admiration. I would like to see this awareness extended to many other vocations. Also service jobs. A pleasant clerk at the grocery store can improve the disposition of all who go through her line.</p>
In New York, that’s not a threat. Unions, you know? My husband drives a garbage truck and made over $120,000 last year, has a million-dollar, state tax free pension and medical/dental/prescription coverage for life. But those jobs are incredibly hard to get nowadays because tens of thousands of people take every civil service test.</p>
I don’t think too many people disagree that having unproductive people is detrimental to everyone. The debate is over what gets results, what is just a waste of money, and what spends money and actually exacerbates the problem.</p>
<p>Thank you for your post, alynor. I come from a working class background. My brother is an ironworker. He is a very intelligent man. From whence does he derive his intelligence? Well there’s genetics (he’s my brother, after all). But apart from that, he is literate, highly so. He reads voraciously. He can hold his own in any crowd, and I’ve watched as many of my friends with top-drawer educations (including Ivy PhDs) have been doubled over with laughter listening to him spin a yarn. (He’s quite the raconteur.) He is not a failure, and neither would anyone else be who chose a blue collar job. Whatever path one chooses (white collar, blue collar, off the grid), literacy is the key. I shudder when I think about people who graduate from high school, or who don’t graduate at all, without the ability to read and write at a basic level.</p>
<p>Dad of 3-- Agreed. It would be lovely to see more discussion about interventions shown to work, and less discussion intimating that the on-average lower achievement and growing gap for low-income students is solely their fault for having “attitudes of entitlement” or lack of initiative (again, imagine a newborn-- full of lack of initiative?(sarcasm here) and entitled? (actually all newborns should act entitled–to be picked up, fed, hugged, changed, sung to and so forth). </p>
<p>There are multiple causes and the solutions likely will also be variegated and complex.</p>
<p>It takes more than access to education “education” rise in society. It takes committed parents who create a supportive, enriching environment that promotes the value of education 24/7 and teaches kids that delayed gratification is the road to success. Government can help a little, but not much. The good news, is that poor families can provide an enriching supportive environment too. Not all rich families do.</p>
<p>Funny, but I’ve knit those mittens of wool. I’ve given coats and work gloves. I’ve done it all. I’m just doubtful of the effects. </p>
<p>Back in the first year of marriage almost three decades ago, I volunteered at the Navy Relief society. We sat with typically young families who were requesting loans and grants. They could not receive funds without doing a budget with a counselor. All expenses were reviewed in light of their incomes. Money wasn’t give to free spenders who weren’t willing to try to live within their means. It was a very valuable program. And I believe it still is.</p>