What are the effects of poverty on school education. I remember growing up always having enough food and the proper clothing for school. Other times I remember sitting in school listening very attentive to what the teacher had to say and taking notes. Some of the other things I remember is taking tests and getting to school on time and getting from one class to the next on time.

I never ever cut a class. (That's what we called back then - just deciding not to go to class -uh skipping class on purpose). Most what comes to mind is being very respectful of teachers because they were the authority and they for all practical purposes were your parents away from home.

As I reflect on the things I experienced in school so many years ago I can now reflect on some things going right now in our schools. First of all if you have a one parent household that in itself will contribute to poverty. You have the income of one instead of two. With a poverty stricken family I have heard tales of children going to school hungry. I could not even imagine that.

Can you imagine going to school hungry? How much learning and studying are you going to do? Very little. Your primary focus or goal is getting something in your stomach to ease the hunger pangs. If you children consistently go to school hungry in the long run their grades are going to suffer.

Poverty can lead to low self esteem. Children from poverty stricken homes are quick to notice that other children dress better than they do and they can become embarrassed which can cause them to withdraw in class which creates a bad learning environment.

If there is poverty in the home children are not to participate in some activities which fosters team work and binding with your peers, if there is a cost incurred.

Sometimes if there is a one parent home that single parent has to work and is not able to give their child all the attention they need so that child will try to get that attention by any means necessary even if it calls for misbehaving in school.

Children from poverty stricken homes can be disruptive in school because they are not being raised or supervised at home and now teachers have to really act as parents for these children. This takes away from the time that teachers should be teaching. In this situation everyone suffers.

So we need a remedy for this situation.

Learn more about this author, Melvin Richardson.
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