Multiculturalism, Diversity, and Poverty in Canada
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I was shocked at the comments made by the Industry Minister James Moore; how it isn’t necessarily the governments’ job to make sure that children do not starve – unbelievable! I believe that this is a micro image of how the well-being of children of a lower socio-economic status are viewed; I do believe that families try hard to give their children the best they can, and if it still isn’t enough the support of the government should be there. The quote at the bottom of the page stuck out to me as well, and I have been reflecting upon it myself, “an elder once said that when you do something wrong, your first job isn’t to apologize – it is to understand what you are going to apologize for” (Campaign, 2000). The connection between the socio-economic statuses of students and their learning outcomes is also talked about in the article by Schibli and D’Angiulli (2011).
I don’t agree with the idea of identifying students with a lower socio-economic status with getting lower grades. I believe home life does make a difference, and reflecting on the article in the Campaign 2000 (2013) article, hungry students might not focus in school as well as students who have eaten breakfast. The idea of changing our views on children of lower socio-economic status from a deficit to simply a difference is brilliant (Schibli & D’Angiulli, 2011). As an educator, I would make sure that students who might not have the same opportunities at home will have the same opportunities in my classroom. I have volunteered at schools where they don’t have a budget for pencils; I signed up for this job knowing I might have to go into my own pocket so that my students will have an equal opportunity to make the best of their future.
I don’t agree with the idea of identifying students with a lower socio-economic status with getting lower grades. I believe home life does make a difference, and reflecting on the article in the Campaign 2000 (2013) article, hungry students might not focus in school as well as students who have eaten breakfast. The idea of changing our views on children of lower socio-economic status from a deficit to simply a difference is brilliant (Schibli & D’Angiulli, 2011). As an educator, I would make sure that students who might not have the same opportunities at home will have the same opportunities in my classroom. I have volunteered at schools where they don’t have a budget for pencils; I signed up for this job knowing I might have to go into my own pocket so that my students will have an equal opportunity to make the best of their future.
References:
Campaign 2000. (2013). End child and family poverty in Canada. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.campaign2000.ca/index.html
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. (2008, February). One in six: Education and poverty in Ontario [Video file]. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from
http://www.etfo.ca/multimedia/webcasts/OneInSix/Pages/default.aspx
Levin, B. (2007). In Canada: Schools, poverty, and the achievement gap. Phi Delta Kappan, 89(1), 75-76. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/oise/UserFiles/File/levin_kappan_sept07_poverty.pdf
Make Poverty History. (2010). Take a stand against poverty. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/
Schibli, K., & D’Angiulli, A. (2011). The neuroscience of poverty: Implications for teaching. Education Canada, 51(2), 17-20.
People for Education. (2008). Ontario’s urban and suburban schools 2008: A discussion paper on the schools we need in the 21st century. Toronto: People for Education.
Campaign 2000. (2013). End child and family poverty in Canada. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.campaign2000.ca/index.html
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario. (2008, February). One in six: Education and poverty in Ontario [Video file]. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from
http://www.etfo.ca/multimedia/webcasts/OneInSix/Pages/default.aspx
Levin, B. (2007). In Canada: Schools, poverty, and the achievement gap. Phi Delta Kappan, 89(1), 75-76. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from
http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/oise/UserFiles/File/levin_kappan_sept07_poverty.pdf
Make Poverty History. (2010). Take a stand against poverty. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/
Schibli, K., & D’Angiulli, A. (2011). The neuroscience of poverty: Implications for teaching. Education Canada, 51(2), 17-20.
People for Education. (2008). Ontario’s urban and suburban schools 2008: A discussion paper on the schools we need in the 21st century. Toronto: People for Education.