Closure/Reflection 2:

            The motivational and driving forces of students based on economical groups according to Parks was relevant and to the point. The three classes---poverty, middle class, and wealth, vary greatly in their values and perspectives. The one thing that all three groups agree on is that education is important. I thought that was interesting. Every group understands and can appreciate the importance of a good education, although some groups are more active in pursuing their education. This implies that each group has the opportunity to be successful, but the choices that they make about their finances and future, will determine the outcome of their classification.

             I think that generational poverty is a pattern of continual misfortune. These unfortunate people are in a rut. They do aspire to achieve beyond what their parents or grandparents achieved in their lifetime, but reality is that they have responsibilities. To take care of their wants and desires become second place to what they must do. Sometimes this means dropping out of high school or forfeiting college for a job that pays the bills.  Without a good education, your choice of employment is very limited; this means your pay is usually minimal.  Understandably their focus would be on living now, because they are living day to day, pay check to paycheck. Any disruption from their life—loss of hours on the job, loss of job, loss of transportation, injury to self, or pay reduction can send them into situational poverty in the blink of an eye. I think that they need motivation and information about how to overcome these debilitating factors of their environment. Knowledge is power. These people need to be armed with knowledge of how, where, when, and what to do, to break the cycle. After this information is given, they should be monitored and given support to achieve their new goals.

                 Situational poverty is an unfortunate series of events that become life-altering.  This type of poverty is becoming more common as our economy continues to dwindle. People who had “safe” jobs are now becoming unemployed in record numbers. Without a safety net, situational poverty can happen to anyone, including the wealthy.  The wealthy have safety nets that come in many forms: investments, stocks, bonds, pension plans, and inheritance.  A commonly overlooked safety net that all classes can utilize is saving. Saving $100 -$200 a month, or more if you are able, and placing that money into a savings account that you do not touch. Over time, you have a nice nest egg that can really come in handy. Trust me, I know that this is harder than it seems if you are already struggling to pay the bills, but budgeting really helps. When you list your monthly expenditures, you may be surprised where the bulk of your money goes.

              As a teacher I feel it is important to let your students know that they can excel beyond their current living conditions. They should aspire to do more than their parents and grandparents did. I want my students to know that there are good opportunities out there for them if they have a good education. Don’t be a condition of your environment.