[Di25722]

Anne I agree with your response the most Though modern sociological thought calls it blaming the victim, there is a ‘culture of poverty’ involving modes of thinking and behavior that help keep poor people poor. An analogy might be the person who does poorly in math claiming he’s just not good at it when all he really needs is to buckle down and do it. For him it’s an easy out. It is exactly doing that and blaming the victim only works to make the rest of society feel better about snatching away the measly bit of help we do give the poor. Poor people who drop out of school and say that they dont have the brains often occurs becasue of what Anne said in her response… Often poor people and minorities are placed in Special Education Tracks and are trained specifically to do work in blue collar jobs etc… The smart kids are placed in the front dumb in the back – its been proven- but anyways- Like Anne said often poor families cannot afford headstart programs – pre-school, if it’s a single female – headed household like an incresing number of poor families are then she’s probably struggling to hold a job or two and doesnt have time to show indv. attn. to each child as well-to-do families do. Then theres the infamous American Ideology that if you work hard enough YOU CAN MAKE IT… which is bull.. there are so many structural barriers for the poor .. it can be said that in the race to the good life the poor and minority start a mile behind the born rich by about a mile in the 100m dash. So some simply realize this and quit and say hey – why keep on in school when I can start making the same amount of money I would without college education.. Then some drop out to make quick money becasue they need to help their fam. out with bills and food, or becasue they want a new car like they see all the wealthy kids drinving but ttheir parents can’t afford to buy them… Don’t blame the victim – thats sick – blacme a society that would rather chide try try again to a child attempting to jump over a hurdle with 100lb. weight chained to their ankle than to give the child the key to free themselves… Read Jay McLoed – Aint No Makin It

User Detail :  

Name : Di25722, Gender : F, Race : Black/African American, Age : 18, City : Lansing, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Dan27278]

I am a real life example of the transistion from the lower class to the middle class due to education. My family is from a lower class ‘blue color’ culture and feel that anyone who has money or has an education is considered uppity. I found a way to put myself through school and attain a double major in business Bachelor degree. I am now comfortably employed by an insurance company, married and a home owner. I live the typical middle class life. The biggest challenge I had to overcome in the transisiton were not the finances or the actual work, but the lack of mentoring and the emotional maturing that grown adults in my family never modeled. I am glad I made mistake s and learned from them. One mistake I am glad I did not make is listening to my family or others and pursued my desire to obtain an education. Linda, you hit the nail on the head and thanks for sharing your insight.

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Name : Dan27278, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 29, City : Central Part of State, State : IL, Country : United States, Occupation : Insurance/Finance, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 

[aysha]

Among the many reasons for the problem, there is one aspect yet to be mentioned. Lower class children are given far fewer chances to learn than upper class. I was disgusted when I read about the ‘poor’ area schools in California. They don’t have enough books for the students, they cannot give out homework because of the shortage. Some spend large sections of time without using heat or air conditioning. How can anyone expect a student to prosper in a situation like that? They aren’t *allowed* to learn, they are literally being held back by the countries economic prejudice. It is much harder to graduate from high school when you have no materials, no proper enviroment, and people assume that since you’re poor, then you must be stupid. This following random question represents the sum of the problem. When you have never been given a map to look at, how can anyone expect you to point to where India is located on one?

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Name : aysha, Gender : F, Age : 27, City : Ammon, State : ID, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, 

[Ryan D]

Everyone does have a talent, yes, but not everyone is suited for higher education. This goes not only for underclasses, but upperclasses as well. I know many ‘well off’ kids in my graduating class who, though they passed their classes, are probably the most un-educated people I’ve ever known. College is not for everyone, this is true, but I don’t think that income has anything to do with how smart a person is. Accessability is the big thing. Many poor families need all available members to work to help support the structure. If you’re working more than you can participate in school, you become disillusioned with the prospect of higher-education, though you may be well-suited for it. Also, alot of times, peer pressure in lower-classes sways intellectuals to more aggressive or physical means as to prevent ‘looking weak.’ The peer groups in more well-to-do areas aren’t as actively against education because of high-demands within their families (dad wants them to go to this school, etc.) But apathy is everywhere. Some people can cut it, some people can’t.

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Name : Ryan D, Gender : Male, Race : American Indian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 20, City : Dallas, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Dave G.]

When I was in high school (late ’60s and early ’70s), the prevailing thoughts that I got from my parents, teachers and even the school counselors was that in order to go to college, my grades had to be no less than a B average and it would be very expensive. Student aid and other programs, like 2-year schools that offered basic classes that could help an average student move into the college experience, were not discussed. The fact is many average students were aimed at the ‘trades’ and not college. My parents did not know better and the schools did not do much to enlighten us.

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Name : Dave G., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 51, City : Excelsior Springs, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : manufacturing engineering, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[KF]

No one in my extended family has finished college, many didn’t finish high school, all were intelligent hardworking people. In high school I was working nearly full time as a carpenter and taking college bound classes. My parents and grandparents said, ‘You’re smart you should go to college’. That’s all they had to offer. Their bottom line expectation was that I be hardworking. The children of the educated learn how to go to college at the dinner table. I have educated friends who are dragging their not so naturally scholarly kids kicking and screaming to higher education and a rewarding career. And I certainly don’t blame them. So is it class thinking or class expectation? I think kids, especially today, are given plenty of platitudes like ‘everyone has a talent’. What aren’t given out freely are personalized roadmaps to highest potential.

User Detail :  

Name : KF, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 44, City : Boise, State : ID, Country : United States, Occupation : Painting Contractor, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[KB]

I think it has a lot to do with not getting the encouragement to do well, or even better, in school. There are a lot of times when teachers and the school have given up on a student, whether it’s because they are troublesome or a problem in school. It does have an effect on people.

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Name : KB, Gender : Female, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Atheist, Age : 29, City : Bisbee, State : AZ, Country : United States, Occupation : homemaker, Education level : Technical School, Social class : Middle class, 

[Cal19578]

You might be over-thinking this one. Some people are just stupid. I don’t think people believe they are stupid because they are poor. I came from a family with modest means, but I never doubted my abilities. Formal education is not for everyone. I have a master’s degree and make good money, but two of my brothers who barely finished high school own their own businesses and are doing just as well.

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Name : Cal19578, Gender : Male, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 46, City : Lakewood, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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