I believe that perception is vital to reducing poverty in the sense that people who have not been exposed to poverty, often think that living in poverty is a choice. Rank (2004) believes that the poor are viewed as being different from mainstream society. There are situations that exasperate poverty such as divorce, single and teen mothers, and death of a family member. However, this does not mean that they choose to live a life at or below the poverty line. The other myth is that poor people are lazy and if they just went to work they would have a better life. The mindset of individuals that are living in poverty is often one of hopelessness, despair, and the feeling that they will never get out of the situation. Poverty can be changed in the future but first we have to change how poverty is viewed in this country. With all of the efforts being placed on poverty in other counties there is not nearly enough attention being paid to poverty issues that are increasing within the United States. When we evaluate poverty and how it will look in the future, we will have to recognize that, there will be families in the future that have never been touched by poverty. These families will be impoverished or very close to the poverty level.
Research has concluded that early childhood program can reduce poverty by increasing children’s social, emotional, language, literacy, and cognitive abilities. These skills that are introduced to children at an early age will lay the groundwork for their educational success. Poverty is a problem that can be addressed in the future with a solid educational system.
A few effective ways to reduce poverty through the education system would be to:
- Provide free or reduced early childhood centers for all children.
- Ensure that all early childhood programs are providing developmentally appropriate programs for the children.
- Create an educational system that is able to focus mainly on educating the students and not disciplining.
- Have an education system that places value on educating student and not just passing standardized test.
- Look at community colleges as a true two-year college and not a way to bridge the gap between high school and the universities.
Reference
Rank, M. R., (2004). One Nation, Underprivileged; Why American poverty affects us all. NY: Oxford University Press.