Drug and Alcohol Families: Reflection #3

From watching the video I believe that a child who is a member of any family that abuses drugs or alcohol is going to struggle in school.  They will struggle both academically and socially.  A child living in a home like that would have a hard time paying attention in a classroom.  They would be tired most of the time from either worrying about their parents and/or having to worry about other siblings within the household, making school their last priority.  Not only would they be tired, but some would probably have their minds wondering throughout the day wondering if mom or dad (or whom ever their guardian is) will be around after school and if they are going to have a meal when they get home.  

Children might also have a tendency to get in trouble and use violence at school due to the fact that that is all they now from seeing their guardian get mixed up with the wrong crowd, being in trouble with the police or from being abused themselves.  This could also cause the child to be socially unexcepted too.  Other children may end up not wanting to play them, because they get in trouble a lot, are mean, and don't really play nice or it could be because the child doesn't have a nice of clothes, they aren't clean all the time and don't have the same nice things that some of the other children may have.  All in all no could can come from a child living in such horrible conditions is more than likely going to have a hard time concentrating in school as well as staying out of trouble and getting along with others and they may even end up going down the same path as their elders.

Reflection #2 Poverty & Youth

Poverty and homelessness is a major problem for the youth in America today, because for some their parents have medical problems that prevent them from going to or finding jobs and for others their parents can't quite make ends meet with the low paying jobs that they have. On top of the youths parent's problems they have to worry about when the next time they are going to eat is and maybe even their younger siblings if they have any.  For example the story about Jessica, she has to not only worry about herself, but her younger siblings and how to make $120 worth of groceries stretch for a month.  She then has to help them with their school work, put them to bed and then start her own homework.  For today's young youth surviving day to day is their biggest issue and making ends meet.

As a teacher we can help these young adults by taking some of the pressures of life off their backs and maybe somehow eliminating some of the stresses completely.  I remember growing up that my school provided family night on friday nights.  People would volunteer to serve a free dinner to families that came in and then there were fun activities that were provided to relieve anyone of there stresses and just to break lose.  Another thing that my school provided was and after school program where children could go to get help on their homework from both teachers and other students.  I hope to someday be a part of a school that provides similar programs or be able to share them.  Another idea was to have maybe jobs provided around the school that pay students for their work.  For example my high school has a book store that pays students who work in it over the summer and students who help out with the custodial work.  I think if schools and teachers gave students more opportunity to work towards their goals then in turn it would give the youth in need motivation to do better and show them that they can do it and that teachers really are here to help.