1. Socio-Economic Influences: Poverty, Class, Social Status and Learning
Introduction to Special Populations
Chapter 4
Socio-Economic Influences:
Poverty, Class, Social Status and Learning

2. What is SES?
Social class or socioeconomic status (SES) is the term used to distinguish a person’s position in society relative to others within that society.
Parental occupation, education level, political power, and income serve as the basis for a student’s SES.

3. What are SES effects? Class distinctions determine:
the location, safety, comfort, and convenience of homes and neighborhoods in which we live;
the quality of the healthcare and schooling we receive;
the worldviews we hold; and
how we relate to others in society.

4. Living in Poverty in America
Could you Survive in Poverty? … in Middle Class? … in Wealth?

5. Current Conditions
There are enormous differences in the economic status and conditions of U.S. residents
46.2 (increase by 2.6 million in last year) million U.S. residents are poor. (2010 statistics)
One out of every five children live in poverty.
For a family of 4, this means earning $22,300 or less
Families holding the top 1 percent of the country's wealth doubled their share of wealth in the last 30 years.
Nearly every Dallas neighborhood high school in 2009, less than 20% of students prepared for college: Adamson, Thomas Jefferson, Kimball, Pinkston, Roosevelt, Samuell, A Maceo Smith, South Oak Cliff, Spruce

6. School Outcomes and SES
Fewer resources in low SES neighborhoods
Students less-prepared when entering school
Teachers often less-prepared and lower paid
Few of students plan to attend college – lower expectations, self-fulfilling prophecy of failure Tracking – different expectations and academic tracks
Lack of parental support – less reading and more television watching at home
Lower educational levels of parents

7. Poverty Young, low education parents, single Unemployment
Substance abuse
Dangerous neighborhoods
Homelessness – mobility, irregular school attendance

8. Two Types of Poverty Generational Situational
Having been in poverty for at least two generations
Prevailing attitude – Society owes them a living
Situational
A lack of resources attributable to a particular event (death, chronic illness, divorce, etc.)
Prevailing attitude - One of pride and refusal to accept charity

9. Ruby Payne & Generational Poverty
Poverty is relative and occurs among people of all ethnic backgrounds.
Economic class is a continuous line, not a clear- cut distinction.
Generational poverty and situation poverty are different.
Hidden rules of generational poverty cause students to react in ways seen as inappropriate for those with middle-class values.
Schools and businesses operate from middle- class norms and use the hidden rules of middle class

10. Resources that influence achievement
Financial
Emotional
Mental
Spiritual
Physical
Support Systems
Role Models
Knowledge of Hidden Rules

11. Hidden Rules: Driving Forces (see handout)
Poverty
Survival
Relationships
Entertainment
Middle Class
Work, achievement
Wealth
Connections – financial, political, social

12. Hidden Rules: Time Poverty Middle Class Wealth Present most important
Decisions made for the moment/surviving
Middle Class
Future most important
Decisions made against future remifications
Wealth
Traditions and history most important
Decisions partially on tradition/decorum

13. Hidden Rules: Power Poverty Middle Class Wealth
Linked to personal respect, ability to fight
Can’t stop bad things from happening
Middle Class
Power/respect separated
Power in information and institutions
Wealth
Power in expertise, connections
Influences policy and direction

14. Are all people in poverty un-employed?
The Working Class
The social group consisting of people who are employed for wages
Especially in manual or industrial work
Many do not make a living wage (Dallas - $12.81/hr)

15. VICIOUS CYCLE OF OPPRESSION
Born into/ fall into/remain in poverty
Housing
Neighborhoods
Basic Needs Not Being Met
School Budgets/Deficient Classrooms
Deficient Education/Lack of Opportunities

16. Programs Helping Families in Poverty
Open Table
McKinney Housing Authority
Ruby Payne Bridges Out of Poverty
When Helping Hurts
Samaritan Inn

17. For Reflection and Discussion
From which rules of class do you typically operate?
2. What school practices have a hidden social-class bias (for example, senior proms; class trips to Washington, DC; school assignments about “What I did on my summer vacation;” and so on)?
3. How do you feel about this statement? “Students from generational poverty need direct teaching to build cognitive structures necessary for learning. The hidden rules must be taught so they can choose the appropriate responses if they desire to succeed academically.”