Address poverty to aid success in education

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Recently, I attended a meeting called by a prominent Springfield community leader and members of his board of directors to learn more about a project with which he and his organization are experimenting. The project involves several financially, socially and educationally "challenged" families who live in poverty and face daily problems many of us could not and perhaps will not believe exist.|ret||ret||tab|

As a retired schoolteacher who has seen and worked with children and youth from all walks of life and socioeconomic situations, and as a mature adult who tries to stay alert to the human condition, I have felt that I know what is happening to people around me. My recent visit with eight single female heads-of-households who are among those served in the above mentioned project reminded me of the stark reality of abject poverty and how it influences the lives of adults and especially children.|ret||ret||tab|

As the evening conversation unfolded, I was reminded of the extreme difficulty many in our community face in trying to simply make a day of living work. The housing, nutrition, health, transportation and role-modeling challenges facing these women and their children are so formidable that not one of them will be able to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" without a great deal of help. For the most part, they don't even own bootstraps.|ret||ret||tab|

I have been told that at least 30 percent of the women in Springfield live in poverty with, according to my source, no visible means of extricating themselves from it. The barriers are too great.|ret||ret||tab|

In Greene County, as of November 1999, 1,257 families were on cash assistance, and 7,084 families representing 15,437 individuals were on food stamps. In January, 43 percent of the elementary school-aged children in the Springfield Public Schools were on free or reduced lunch. |ret||ret||tab|

Twelve years ago in the Springfield Public Schools, approximately 20 percent of the children and youth in grades kindergarten-12 were on free or reduced lunch. Today that figure is 34.6 percent, a significant increase.|ret||ret||tab|

I want to make a distinction between being poor and living in poverty. There is a difference. There are households eligible for some public assistance and by today's standards consider themselves poor, but provide a home life for themselves and their children which is wholesome and good. In fact, some of the most productive people in our community who have a giving and serving spirit struggle financially but carry themselves with dignity and live in a noble manner.|ret||ret||tab|

Also, there are single-parent households that do a great job providing care and love for their children, and who pay as close attention to their children as any family can. My concern, and I believe a justifiable concern for the community, is for the children who live in real poverty. |ret||ret||tab|

One respected public school official said that research shows a major risk factor for children in school is a low socioeconomic condition. He says this fact is crystal clear.|ret||ret||tab|

This leaves the community with a problem. All of the children of poverty will be in school, and for the most part, they will not do well. They often require very specialized assistance, which strains any school district's dollars and human resources. |ret||ret||tab|

These children usually have poor attendance records due to illness and a lack of strong family support.|ret||ret||tab|

It is not as if the mothers of these children don't care. Those I visited with seem to care for their children and want to do right by them. The problem is, they just can't without help.|ret||ret||tab|

What shall we do?|ret||ret||tab|

For the skeptic who says anyone can do better if they wish go have a 3-hour conversation with these women and consider the barriers they face every day.|ret||ret||tab|

For the church that says, "we are looking for a way to extend God's love" go listen, then get "down and dirty".|ret||ret||tab|

For those who say, "let the government take care of them" check to see how perfectly that has been working. I have a high regard for the work of many of our government servants charged with the concern for and care of some of our citizens who require special help. However, there are some jobs we should not leave entirely to the government. |ret||ret||tab|

Often, our service to others should be personal. " ... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me," Jesus Christ said in Matthew 25:40.|ret||ret||tab|

For those oblivious to the problem look around.|ret||ret||tab|

What do we believe would happen if every church in Greene County were to seriously sponsor one of these families for a three-year period by finding proper housing, fixing their teeth and restoring good health, educating and training the parent for a productive job and role in society, becoming the extended family and working with the children until they find some success in school?|ret||ret||tab|

We would solve some future problems and we would be doing what is right. |ret||ret||tab|

Not every effort would result in finding a successful solution, but some would.|ret||ret||tab|

If we don't take strong affirmative action, the cycle of poverty and welfare will never be broken, and the children of poverty will continue to fail in the schooling process.|ret||ret||tab|

(Arthur L. Mallory, EdD, is a former president of Southwest Missouri State University and former commissioner of education who resides in Springfield.)[[In-content Ad]]