Curr 509 - Self Sufficiency Standard

The real cost of living in NJ was an eye opener as to the struggles that a lot of families have to go through. These struggles do not only affect the adults in the family, but also the children and their everyday activities. Children should not have to worry about factors like money until they become adults; they should have the opportunity to be children for as long as possible. Unfortunately, their family structure and economics affect the way they feel and function. Children's circumstances affect them because they can be hungry, lack clothes, somewhere to sleep, or lack a place to do their homework. Something that some of us take for granted such as having breakfast can affect a child's ability to focus and learn. They may not have a parent present at home to help with homework or instead may have to take care of their siblings. Some families are not able to make enough money to meet the self sufficiency standard. If they are not able to meet the standard they either have to lack some of the necessities they need or receive help such as food stamps or welfare.

The self sufficiency standard is a measure of a wage that a family needs to meet their basic necessities without receiving outside help, such as from the government. This standard is better, but not perfect, than the federal poverty level of the amount of money a family needs to live. I do not know how the government is using a forty year old model to determine what a family in today's society need. This is not very appropriate when the model and cost of how a family lives has changed greatly in the last few decades. Nowadays, most likely both parents must work to make ends meet, and children do not have the opportunity to have a stay at home parent always tending to them. The self sufficiency standard is more realistic to today's society because it takes into account geography and the children's age because age correlates to the cost of childcare, where the FPL does not.

As a teacher being aware and sympathetic to our student’s circumstances are the most important things we can do to help them. Teachers need to consider the student’s religion, family structure, economics, social structure, culture and combine those considerations with teaching content. Sometimes children just need someone to listen to them and care about what they might be going through.