Not Enough to Live On and Poor Kids

After reading Not Enough to Live On I understood a little better what some families are going through, but it did not make much impact because in reality when reading a document like that one you are just looking at rates and numbers. Then you read about the recommendations for proposed policies to hopefully close the gaps that one may or may not agree with based on your ideals and background knowledge. Then I listened to the segment on Moth Radio and I was not too impacted. Growing up in a very diverse town such as North Bergen, and next to other towns that are on a lower socioeconomic level, that was a story I have heard before from it occurring to people I know. Back when I attended school North Bergen was a town where you had people who were poor and did not want to show it, and people who had a lot more than they needed to live. But, after watching the Poor Kids movie, and putting faces and names to the descriptions and numbers in the reading it was shocking. It stirred up mixed feelings of sadness, guilt because I have always had so much, worry because I hope to never have to go through that, and others such as hope that maybe someone or something can make a difference in the lives of any children that have to experience things like this. The video was a real eye opener. It made me really relate to the kids, and wonder what if it was me or someone I know going through something like this. These kids are not having the chance to be kids, one of the little girls was saying how she was happy her family was happy, and she did not care if she was. That is not something a child should have to think about. 

Economics and poverty are directly correlated. A family’s economic level dictates the level of life they can lead. I was glad and surprised to hear that at such early ages most of the kids in the video understood that education is the step they need to have the opportunity to make a better living. In the classroom sometimes it is difficult for teachers to teach if the resources they need are not available, and a lot of times teachers have to put their own money to buy supplies they kids may need. As for the school, the Nutrition club shown in the video was a good start, although it could have been handled a little different because it singles the kids out to have to walk out in the middle of lecture to get the food while the others stare at them. It is enough what they are going through, to also be put in a situation where other kids can pick on them. In NJ, there was a proposed program where low income children could not only get lunch during the school day, but also breakfast. That is a policy that is much needed and helpful, how can children be expected to come to school and learn, and then display that knowledge in a standardized test when they are overwhelmed and hungry. A child can forget for a minute the situation they have at home, but they can’t forget their body asking them for food. 

I don’t believe policy or teachers buying supplies is enough to close the gap, the community needs to be more involved also. If you see your neighbor needs help and you can help them, do it. In my opinion there needs to be more community involvement, more community programs where kids can get a book if they too, get some used clothes, a plate of food, etc. Communities can do this by being more involved and doing more fundraisers. As far as the schools, there needs to be something extra to instill in the kids that education and drive are imperative to success, so that they can break the cycle.