JFU
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Posts: 7 
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Post by JFU on Jan 14, 2016 6:52:28 GMT
Of course, poor kids, even given opportunity and scholarships have numerous other obstacles to overcome. Obviously this will be a massive over-generalization, but a lot of poor and underprivileged families and parents value education and schooling somewhat less than wealthier and more educated parents; while most parents, regardless of wealth would likely wish for their children to get a good education, I think that higher-class and wealthier parents are often more likely to push their children to study harder and attempt to work towards college from an earlier age, especially when they themselves have done so in their own childhoods. This is also ignoring the ability of higher-income families to provide for education for their children, whether that be in the form of extracurriculars, learning instruments, tutoring, and time that poorer families might not be able to afford.
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Post by maxwellheller on Jan 14, 2016 7:32:11 GMT
Education is needed to overcome poverty. Through education, individuals are able to move up the social ladder and achieve economic success. Pouring money into the public school system directly improves the futures of millions of children from under-resourced communities. Educational reform should be of paramount importance not only to politicians, but also to American citizens. Educating children today strengthens America for tomorrow. Therefore, education, not poverty, is a shared responsibility by all Americans.
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Post by natashaauer on Jan 14, 2016 8:23:46 GMT
I agree with the points said on this thread. As Dana and Niki and everyone else pointed out, education is one of the more effective tactics for reducing poverty; more government spending on programs for underprivileged kids would give those kids a better chance of ascending to a higher socioeconomic position which would in turn lead to a decrease in unemployment rates and crime rates. The opportunities from this federal funding would also perpetuate a better attitude towards school because underprivileged kids would now realize they too can increase their standings. In addition, I completely agree with Griffin as not everything can be solved by bettering American education. Families across America, even families close to our neighborhood, have to sacrifice education for more pertinent and impending issues like making enough money for rent and food or looking after sisters and brothers while your parents work two jobs. Welfare and aid programs are also necessary to reduce poverty rates; by giving parents the money they need to support their family, children would not have to work and could spend their time focusing on their education
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JFU
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by JFU on Jan 14, 2016 11:12:22 GMT
Is that really practical, though? You say that giving more welfare money would even the playing field, so to speak, and give children of poorer families a better chance of competing with higher-income families; but we do have welfare and aid programs, and other nations have vastly greater welfare and aid programs. No matter the magnitude of a welfare program, higher income families will always have a massive, massive advantage (unless you're suggesting welfare sufficient to equalize low- and high-income families, which I think would be incredibly impractical). I agree that increasing welfare would certainly be good - I'm certainly not arguing with that and would help to a degree, but is there any better and more comprehensive solution, one that isn't so inherently limited? With respect to using education as a tool to minimize poverty and "lift up" poorer families, welfare will never be a perfect solution.
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Post by katedenend on Jan 14, 2016 16:30:14 GMT
I agree with Jasper in the idea that simply giving financial aid to those in need might not be the most effective method. Welfare helps those unemployed, but often those who are employed are still unable to make a livable wage. To some extent change must come from the companies and businesses them selves, wether it be voluntary or mandated by government. In other countries, like Australia, minimum wage is significantly higher than in the US and more benefits are provided. With a higher minimum wage, people are able to actually move up in economy and are working for a more reasonable salary.
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Post by carolinefenyo on Jan 15, 2016 4:45:17 GMT
I agree with Kate and Jasper, often those who have financial aid still need more resources that they have not had the chances to receive. Living in an area such as Silicon Valley, parents of students provide extra help as the student requires it, which often gives them advancements they may take for granted, where in other parts of the country, these opportunities do not exist.
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Post by Anonymous on Jan 15, 2016 4:55:09 GMT
According to the basic Hinduist tenet of the Law of Karma, people are born poor because of sins and misconduct in previous lives. Since the soul lives forever and is reincarnated based on good or bad deeds, the poor do actually deserve to be poor because they committed crimes or lived immorally in their previous lives. Therefore, poverty is simply divine punishment for bad deeds and we should not do anything to help people escape this punishment.
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Post by clarissam on Jan 15, 2016 6:35:12 GMT
I agree that education, and welfare are important to help end poverty. Simply giving out equal amounts of money or as Mr. Wellington said 'equal' opportunities in a class room, I think rather than giving everyone equal shares it's more important to give based on need, in order to have people at a more equal basis and therefore allow people to come out of poverty. In the case of lets say a teenager who comes from a lower income family, they would have the resources given to them in order to get that person on the same level as the other students, even if it means giving them more and the other student whose parents have a higher income. That way if a teenager whose working in order to support their family, or anybody who doesn't have time to not work as much to get the education or training for higher paying jobs, in order to support their family at least have the chance to attempt to come out of poverty.
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Post by clarissam on Jan 15, 2016 6:43:39 GMT
In reality there is no perfect way to end poverty, there will always be people who will have more opportunities and advantages as others (in this case than lower income families), however attempting to give welfare based on need, and at least trying to help equalize opportunities in jobs and education would potentially help alleviate increasing poverty.
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Post by laurenmclaughlin on Jan 15, 2016 9:17:26 GMT
If we start to think of poverty as a shared responsibility, I don't think it should be seen in a negative light. Improving economic conditions for the lower class will in turn help the middle and upper classes prosper. To share the "burden" of poverty, is not such a burden after all: its a collaboration between Americans, to overall improve the economy by creating for equitable opportunities for a wider group of people. If solving poverty was an individual responsibility than much would take a long time or never to get done. However, if both the people living in poverty as well as the middle and upper class citizens work together, they will see the positive effects on the economy much sooner.
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Post by connor on Jan 15, 2016 16:24:10 GMT
I believe poverty will not be solved by simple economic philosophies. However that being said i do believe in some ways poverty is not a shared responsibility. I believe that root of poverty lies in early education. To take an example that affects all our lives let me discuss Menlo Atherton.
At MA the administration does an exquisite job providing equal opportunity for all no matter there financial backgrounds. therefore growing up in an environment in which all around me had the same chance some decided to be lazy and not apply themselves leads me to the conclusion that farther doing the road i should not be held accountable for these peoples failings. now i concede that not every case of failed high school education is based on self merits, some may have extenuating circumstances but for the vast majority it is simple complacency. to conclude poverty is not a shared responsibility, whether or not this statement is true from my standpoint one can only come to this conclusion.
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