What kind of things will help the poor urban school district kids

Parent Cafe
1

<p>My kid is involved in helping student in poor urban school districts through Boys and Girls club. In past she has put time towards teaching math and science to poor kids. She has done motivational speeches, and introduced the concept of why education is one of the easier ways for poor kids to come out of poverty. being first generation immigrant, she knew first hand poverty as we were struggling ourselves. THus she really wants to help and doing this outreach from last few years.</p>

<p>The kid applied for a grant first time and won the money. She is using this money to leverage for more money. The important part is she really thinks that these kids need all the help they can get. She is planning to buy books that would be like Ben Kaplan “how to finance education.” She has asked my input. What parents can think that poor urban school district could use with $750 in grant money. It is not a lot but a step in right direction. Any reasonable suggestions are welcome. Thanks for your help.</p>

2

<p>Main purpose is to be thirfty yet take the money as far as possible to help out. Books or any other material that could help. She is trying to make it as self sustaiable program.</p>

3

<p>I think finding successful people from poor urban backgrounds who would come and share their experiences with the kids and speak honestly with them about how to do what may be very difficult in spite of the odds.</p>

<p>Finding assistants to sit with the kids one to one and help them fill out forms and applications for schools and scholarships. </p>

<p>Going with them to public libraries and making sure they are internet-computer literate and competent.</p>

4

<p>There is no single way to help students in underperforming urban school districts. A lot of these children are coming from circumstances that are beyond their control and quite startling compared to their middle-class peers in the suburbs. I highly praise them if they are able to come to school everyday. To say that education is the solution to escape from poverty is too simple. Many of the students' parents are functionally illiterate too. You also have the peer pressure problem where some students, particularly boys, will rather take the 'instant gratification' route than go to college in some unknown environment. This is a community and generational problem. Yes, education is a solution but this society must be willing to help these students. If not, the children will continue to think they are unwanted and therefore engage in deviant behavior.</p>

5

<p>tensighs:</p>

<p>Yes you are right. But what would be best route to spend this money. If you were in my kids shoes what would do? Hopefull other people will start something too. Afterall someone started a similar program prpe for prep where my kid went to prep school on the help from this program. </p>

<p>So please offer solutions to spend the money in the best way. Instaed of throwing the money looking for constructive way to spend the money. Do you think buying educational books or taking them to field trips is worth it.</p>

6

<p>Stockmarket - Kind of an aside, but where did your daughter wind up going to college?</p>

7

<p>It really depends on how old the students are. What are we talking. 6 year-olds? 8 or 9 year olds? Or 12-14 year-olds?</p>

<p>You can't really teach direct stuff on $750 in my opinion, not without a LOT of time, sufferring, patience, driven by an insane amount of love. Its too much for any kid to take on.</p>

<p>So, trying to be practical, I'd say she should spend the money like this:</p>

<p>For young young folks (5-7), get applied stuff in their hands. Interesting manipulatives that really challenge them. Then show them how the stuff works.</p>

<p>For young folks (8-10) - same thing, but more age appropriate.</p>

<p>You just throw books at these kids, forget it. Many won't even have the basic skills to dig into a book and extract enough to keep them going. Applied stuff will show them there is an interesting world before them. Some will maybe catch on.</p>

<p>For teens, its a different matter. Many are so discouraged there is just nothing a kid with $750 can do. Discouragment will show up in a lot of ways. And a motivational speech will help only for as long as the kid sits and hears it.</p>

<p>But with $750 you can set up a little haven where teens can get what they realy need - people who they respect showing that they have a belief in them.</p>

<p>We've done something like this in my area here, though I know we've spent a lot more than $750 on it. But to get it started, we spent A LOT LESS than $750. Since then, other folks have pitched in along the way. No one tracks anything. We just give what we can in books, toys, time and other stuff. My kids tutor and do a lot of work too.</p>

<p>Your kid really needs help to make a real difference. I'm talking about spending almost the entire $750 marketing to these kids' community to find that help. I'm talking about going into a church or community center, talking with pastors to locate families who are concerned about this stuff. I'm talking about finding other students your kid's age who are in these communities, who folks know are decent and smart, and who are willing to join in and help reach out. I'm talking about getting capable students to spend time building something special. Basically, your kid has to have a plan and a vision to build this. And she needs the personality to go out and give the vision to other people.</p>

<p>Even this is not enough. I wish I could tell you our work here has eliminated the problems we've seen. But, you know, kids are being helped on an ongoing basis. That is what is important.</p>

<p>I just don't have a better idea on how to maximize $750.</p>

8

<p>alumother:</p>

<p>She decided H is the place for her.</p>