Intelligent children from poor backgrounds fall behind........ - Page 2

andrewb · 14-12-2007, 10:42

There's an underclass forming in Britain, greatly exaggerated by the gap between them and the wealthiest since the economic revolution of the 80's. Most people got richer but the very poorest got poorer.

I think it splits in to two sections. There are areas of the country perhaps more apparent in London, with flats filled with people addicted to drugs, alcohol who have no way of getting out of their hellhole.

Then there are places in or example certain areas of Hull where people are just really, really poor. Not really through any fault of their own, but because its a poverty circle. You see how your parents have turned out, you see what they're doing, everyone in the houses around you are in the same situation. You don't particularly care about doing well at school, because nobody else is bothering in school, as they're all in the same situation in certain neighbourhoods.

It is a huge problem to deal with. On the one hand you need to support them by wealth distribution through the welfare state, but on the other hand, it removes the incentive for them to get themselves out of the hole they're in.

They're suffering not from poverty of money, but poverty of ambition.

emamum · 14-12-2007, 10:43

part of your training when you work with children is how to help them get out of the cycle of poverty......

Eric · 14-12-2007, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyfr

There's an underclass forming in Britain, greatly exaggerated by the gap between them and the wealthiest since the economic revolution of the 80's. Most people got richer but the very poorest got poorer.

I think it splits in to two sections. There are areas of the country perhaps more apparent in London, with flats filled with people addicted to drugs, alcohol who have no way of getting out of their hellhole.

Then there are places in or example certain areas of Hull where people are just really, really poor. Not really through any fault of their own, but because its a poverty circle. You see how your parents have turned out, you see what they're doing, everyone in the houses around you are in the same situation. You don't particularly care about doing well at school, because nobody else is bothering in school, as they're all in the same situation in certain neighbourhoods.

It is a huge problem to deal with. On the one hand you need to support them by wealth distribution through the welfare state, but on the other hand, it removes the incentive for them to get themselves out of the hole they're in.

They're suffering not from poverty of money, but poverty of ambition.

Yup, I would agree, almost 100%. And not just in Britain; all first world nations have their third world "class."

MargaretR · 14-12-2007, 11:58

When in poverty parents main concern is food on the table and shoes on the feet - education has to come after that, understandably so