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.