Children in poverty face challenges virtually unknown to principals and teachers in middle class or wealth – challenges from both obvious and hidden sources. As a result, there’s often a gap of understanding between educators and the children they serve.
A Framework for Understanding Poverty written by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D., provides an understanding of economic class differences and a multitude of strategies for overcoming them at school.
In response to educators wanting to apply the Payne Model, aha! Process offers a variety of School Programs to help bridge the gap between students and teachers. The goal is to create an atmosphere of achievement in which all students can flourish.
aha! Process offers several approaches to creating a sustainable atmosphere of achievement. For more information, visit our website at: http://www.ahaprocess.com/School_Programs/
It’s easy to call Payne’s work “classist” or “racist” or “stereotypical.” It’s easy to say we have to change the deeper causes of poverty rather than focus on changing students’ attitudes and skills. But how does saying those things help anyone get out of poverty? Do we need more funding for social programs that teach people how to avoid having kids before they can support them? Yes. Do we need more funding for social programs that teach people how to avoid child abuse and other violence? Yes. What I’m more concerned with is how I can help the kids in my classroom. Payne offers me some concrete approaches I can take in my classroom.
If you want to see someone rip Ruby Payne without offering any suggestions for how to help kids overcome their issues, read this essay by Paul Gorski:
http://www.edchange.org/publications/Savage_Unrealities_abridged.pdf
In this essay, he writes, “For those of us in the middle or upper classes,
Payne protects our privilege and gives us permission to do the same. And so the cycle stays in motion.” What I see in Payne’s book “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” is an outline for how to be successful and climb out of poverty, one person at a time. Gorski seems to think we can get everyone out at once without addressing what skills are necessary to climb out of poverty. I don’t believe being middle class is bad. My parents have worked their tails off with physical labor to stay in lower middle class. Their examples have taught me to do the same.
Gorski, in another of his articles (“The Myth of the ‘Culture of Poverty’”), says there is no such thing as a “culture of poverty.” OK. People in poverty do differ. But can we deny that people who live in poverty share many characteristics that keep them in poverty? I don’t know how anyone can. I also don’t know how anyone could argue that we shouldn’t identify and try to help kids overcome issues like poor organizational skills, disrespect for authority, physical violence, and poor goal-setting skills. These are things that I, as a teacher, can help kids with. If I don’t, I’m not doing my job. I think Gorski should worry less about labeling and more about helping kids.
Yes, we do have Framework available on CD. It can be found in our webstore at http://www.ahaprocess.com/store/Family_Framework.html. Additionally we have Bridges out of Poverty available and Crossing the Tracks for Love.
Enjoy.
Please, please…is there a CD version of the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty? As Teachers/Support Staff our sit down and read time is very limited. Providing the book in a CD version will allow many to listen while driving, waiting for family members, etc.
Wish more publishers would consider this!!
I am a principal of an Intermdiate School and have been for two years now… I used Ruby Panye when I was a princcipal at a Middle School.. It was very successful… I would like to work with this staff in the same manner but, I do not have the budget for the books needed to use for the workshop. Do you have any suggesstions for me? I need about 40 books of Ruby Payne’s original book.