These Families Those Families: Deconstructing the Poverty Argument Beth Harry Equity Forum March 1,...
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Transcript of These Families Those Families: Deconstructing the Poverty Argument Beth Harry Equity Forum March 1,...
These Families Those Families:
Deconstructing the Poverty Argument
Beth Harry
Equity Forum
March 1, 2011
The Poverty Argument
Poverty accounts for:
Lack of motivation
Poor behavior
Low IQ scores
High drop-out rate
Disproportionality in Special Ed
The List of Deficits
Ravitch: “It’s poverty”
Ruby Payne: family cultural deficit
Hart & Risley: family language deficit
Berliner: family income deficit
NRC: family and environmental deficit
The Big Picture: Societal Structure Deficit
Kozol: School structureRacial and income segregation
School cultures
School resources
Anyon: Societal structureMinimum wage
Transportation
Health care
School funding
Missing Link (a): Deficit Defined by Middle-Class Norms
IQ score does not equal intelligence
Different language register does not equal language skill/ability
Different behaviors do not equal behavioral disorder:
Missing Link (b): Poor Kids Get Poor Schools
HOW?Funding formulas
Lower salaries
Weak teachers, administrators
Limited curriculum
High-stakes testing
Quick fixes
Low expectations
Family stereotyping
Missing Link (c): Family Resilience
The facts of poverty are evident
Purpose is not to romanticize poverty or poor families; rather to inspire
Thankful for the big picture books (Anyon, Kozol, Hart & Risley, Berliner)
But I’m going to offer you some close-up pictures of hope, promise, resilience, family strength
Robert: I’m a Gangsta, Tha’s Why!
Jacintha
Why do I have 9 kids? Because I just love having kids. I love being a mother.“To Robert, with love, from Mom and Dad, Christmas, 1999”Baby – bring momma’s pen.Robert needs help. Please do something!
Robert’s Mom
Kanita: She Just Wants Her Momma
Kanita’s Family
Grandma: There’s nothing wrong with her. She just wants her momma.”Grandma: Would you like to see my album?Cousin: Is Kanita going to college?EBD Teacher: What’s she doing here?
Silvia: A Very Happy PersonSilvia: A Very Happy Person
Silvia’s Mom
Es una persona muy contenta”
Este problema tengo yo - que ya esta grande y no sabe leer nada. Eso es lo que quiero, que ella aprenda a leer, porque sin sabe leer no sabe nada”