Students that come from impoverished families do not learn in the same
way as students from middle class or wealthy families. Notions of value and
importance are different when seen through the eyes of an underprivileged
child, and we can’t expect them to adapt their worldview in order to succeed in
the American education system. Our schools need to adapt in order to teach all
students effectively, by using programs that will help them understand the
worth of a grade school education in the real world.
When we attempt to understand obstacles to impoverished students in the
classroom, it’s important to put ourselves in their shoes. When someone of the
well-to-do class takes a glance at a poor, urban high school student they see
the obvious. Financial limitations, likely poor parenting, and maybe a
part-time job after school make it difficult for poor students to keep the
importance of schooling in frame. But let’s say that the good people of the
world were to give that student enough money to go to college - we’ll say
$100,000. Would this fix all of his or her problems?
