Reply to Can achievement gap be closed with extra tutoring?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I agree about the motivation part. My grandfather hosted some executives from India a few years ago. After dinner where they were discussing poverty, they asked my grandfather to take them through the poorest area of Baltimore (he lives in Baltimore). He drove them through Sandtown-Winchester which is the area where Freddie Gray grew up. The Indian executives asked about services, etc for the people living in this area and other poor areas of the city. They were shocked that so many services were available. They said that in India, people live in slums with no access to sanitation, food, clean water, etc. People dug through the dumps looking for food and items to sell. They were hungry to get out of poverty. There are plenty of services available especially in cities to help people. But if you have somewhere to live, food to eat, water to drink and a cell phone, etc, what motivation is there to get the hell out of there? [/quote]

True. You can't drag someone out of poverty, unless he wants to leave there.

I was definitely in poverty 30 years ago using today's standards. Change clothes and take shower only once a week; wear the same shoes as long as they still fit; commute to school 30 minutes away by bike; only eat meat and seafood occasionally; use the same bag (not even a backpack) as long as the hole at the bottom is smaller than books; no after school activities (but play with kids in my neighborhood); bring lunch from home for 12 years which tastes yucky after being reheated (worse than MCPS lunch)...

Class size is over 50. But luckily the teachers were super responsible. They worked with both the GT kids and the low performing kids in the same classroom. I just don't see poverty itself is the hurdle to successful education. Something else is wrong in the current system. Going to tutoring is called cheaters and shame. Hard work is not honored any more.    [/quote]

I see poverty like depression.  I haven't been in poverty, but I have been depressed.  Married, 2 kids, good life, and wanted every day to feel better.  You start and then you slump.  It is embarrassing and agonizing.  Homeless people?  The bottom of the barrel.  Not many bounce back.  Our social services is run by the government.  Isn't it ironic that we are all here talking about the achievement gap.  How about we start monitoring social services. Grade them based on how many they get back on their feet, do they have programs for free college, free tech school, offer financial courses,  have health management updates, etc...  I know there are people out there abusing system, but there are more that just need a jump start.  Not having money, skills, or health care is a recipe for disaster.  It is a viscous cycle.  [/quote]

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