Hello everyone.  My name is Bert Williams.  I am a Senior at the University of South Carolina, and I am majoring in Physical Education.  I hope to teach at the Elementary School level because I really enjoy working with young students.  I hope you all enjoy my wikki page.  If you would like to leave me a comment please feel free to do so.   

"Can Teachers Change Poverty?" 

     The video I chose is called changing poverty.  I chose this video because poverty is a major problem in society today, especially with the economic problems we are facing.  According to Jeanne Ellis Ormrod (2006), author of Educational Psychology Developing Learners, students' school performance is correlated with their socioeconomic status (Ormrod 124).  In other words, students who come from higher economic backgrounds tend to have more success in school, where as students from lower economic backgrounds are more likely to not be successful, and maybe even drop out. (Ormrod 124).  Their success is often determined by which background they come from.  It is almost like these young people are destined for failure from the beginning.  In my opinion, this is a shame.  As teachers, we should strive to encourage all students regardless of the background they come from.  Is this an easy task?  Absolutely not, but it shouldn't mean we assume that just because students come from a lower economic background that they can't achieve in school, and later in life. 

     On the other hand, there are many issues that go along with children from low economic backgrounds, such as poor nutrition, emotional stress, less parental involvement in school activities, and lower quality schools (Ormrod 125-126).  These issues make teacher's jobs increasingly difficult to change the trends that have been in place for many years.  Many of the students who live in low income neighborhoods must also deal with lower income schools.  There is not enough funding given to schools with a majority of low income students (Ormrod 127).  This means fewer supplies, less teachers, and lower expectations for students (Ormrod 127).  Based on the facts found during research, it seems these students continue to suffer.  Is it really their fault they come from a low economic status, and if it is not, then what are teachers doing to change this trend?  These are all questions which I am sure are very difficult for many teachers and administrators to answer. 

     So, what can we do as teachers to possibly begin to change this trend?  According to Piaget, children construct knowledge from their experiences (Ormrod 25).  Being able to give our students a variety of experiences could help increase their knowledge about not only many school principles, but many life lessons as well.  The experience students have in school could change their life for the better because it can give them a chance to be successful.  If success comes from hard work in class, then that trend could continue with encouragement.  However, it is also important to not just give up on students that are not successful.  It is ultimately the students' choice on whether or not they are successful, but it is also our job as teachers to place them in the best position to be successful. 

     Another theory that contributes to children with low economic status is Vygotsky's assumption that through both informal conversations and formal schooling, adults convey to children ways in which their culture interprets and responds to the world (Ormrod 34).  The ideas we give students through conversations and schooling could possibly change their perspective on what people from their background can accomplish.  They may have quite a negative perspective coming into school due to living circumstances, but as teachers, we have the oppurtunity to change that perspective in a very positive way.

     I agree with the message Changing Poverty gives because I believe it sends the message school can possibly change the trend poverty has given throughout the course of several years.  If students are given a positive educational experience, it could possibly motivate them to continue on and do things never done by anyone in their family.  Sure the challenges are great, but if you were a student born into poverty, would you want to be forgotten about?  Would you want fewer opportunities thant others just because you were born into a difficult situation?  I can't stress enough the oppurtunity we have as teachers to create change.  The task is difficult, but if we can impact one student at a time perhaps the results will be great.  As future educators, let's try to do our best and help change poverty.   

Sources: 

Ormrod, Jeanne.  Educational Psychology Developing Learners.  Ohio:  Pearson, 2006.