How do you think living in a poor neighborhood could affect a child? Do they deserve better? Why or why not?

Question

Harvard recently did a study, where it found that "Living in disadvantaged neighborhood was equivalent to missing a year of school". http://harvardscience.harvard.edu/node/20046

If everyone in the US is not starting out with the same opportunities, is it the children's fault? I've always wondered how people can blame poor children for not doing better, since I grew up in poor rural areas, and saw it was difficult to "get ahead". If we're not doing enough to make children's lives safer, is it society who's to blame for children's lost opportunities?

Answer 1

It's interesting that so many people say that it is some individual person's fault, when clearly every individual person lives in an entire community within an entire society within an entire culture within an entire human population.

But I guess we can always find some one person to lay blame on, can't we ~ humans are notoriously good at missing the big picture because they are concentrating on what is right in front of them.

Maybe that's because if we can just blame someone, it means WE don't have to do a thing ourselves and don't have to feel bad about being uncaring, lazy and selfush.

Of course an area with fewer facilities and services is not going to provide the same level of cultural, social and academic nurturing as an area with better services and facilities.

Of course people with natural abilities that give them an advantage over others will do better ~ should they take the credit for that themselves, or did they just get lucky? I think we all know the answer, yet people trumpet about how after being born with big brains they did better than their less smart fellows. The wonder would be if they DIDN'T.

What amazes me continually is that we in the west live in a society that is so rich that the middle classes have possessions and lifestyles that would make the ancient pharoahs green with envy, yet there is still poverty and still children who go to bed hungry at night.

And yet, we can do so much better. And we all know it (see article link below).

America can get into trillions of dollars of debt waging war and buying plasma televisions but can't provide schools of quality for its (declining numbers) of children? Don't make me laugh. It's about WANT to, and people don't want to and that's the measure of it.

As long as one child is hungry or uneducated in this world, shame on all of us :-(

Answer 2

Living in a poor neighborhood can limit a person's expectations of life. So many problems exist when people don't have money. There is more crime and drug abuse in poorer neighborhoods. There is more mental illness because people have less access to mental health services. And I think it is true that often the parents do have children without considering how they will provide for them.

The problem is that we can't bring all the children in these neighborhoods up to a middle class standard. Is that fair? No. But life is not fair. Some are privileged and some are disadvantaged. That is not going to change.

Is society to blame? No, I don't think so.

It would probably help if corporations in this country didn't ship their manufacturing overseas. If people had some way to get a decent job without a college education.

But corporate greed has taken jobs away.

Answer 3

Define a poor neighborhood, what choice does a child have anyway? No matter the income if the child isn't felt loved by his or her parents and the parents don't help the teaching process the child will be behind developmentally. Educate the parents and make the schools a safe place and a community center. It really does take a village.

Answer 4

It can affect a child. They deserve better all kids do. But if that is the best the parent can do at the time then all they can do is make the best of it. Because you live in a poor area doesn't mean you are poor. You can be rich in other areas. I grew up in a very poor area. It made me work harder to have better when I got older.

Answer 5

I truly do not think living in a poor neighborhood means a child is totally disadvantaged. Money is not the issue here. It is being loved and what values are being taught to them.
I do understand if they are so impoverished that they are going hungry this may affect them in more ways than one, but if you just mean working class families that have it hard financially, then no.
Either way I still cannot say they deserve better, because what does this actually mean. Are you saying they deserve rich parents, or saying rich parents would be better.
I say this a a child who grew up in a single family home whose mom worked very hard to take care of her three children. I would not have given up my childhood for the world. She taught us hard work and determination can get you anywhere you want to be.
As long as a parent can make a child feel safe in this world, he or she will turn out fine.

Answer 6

nobody is really to blame. the parents can't afford a better neighborhood, but it's not their fault either. everyone is dealt a different hand of cards. the government COULD step in more to better the education system of poorer neighborhoods, but of course they're already out doing more "important" things such as starting ignorant wars that serve no purpose..it is a sad disadvantage that some children lack proper education due to their environment...but it's life...there will always be that one neighborhood that isn't satisfactory to the rest.

Answer 7

Less access to healthcare, education and other opportunities that help and encourage a successful and happy life.
is it society who's to blame for children's lost opportunities?
That depends on how you look at society. If you believe like I do that we're all human beings who are in this together society has a responsibility to do everything to make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed in life.

If you however think like the American right seems to think that society means nothing and it's everyone for himself, that every attempt to give people a hand up is evil socialism then that situation is totally acceptable. Usually they also give you a line about people who can't afford it shouldn't have children. Keep in mind this are the same folks who want to outlaw abortion. It's pretty clear they aren't pro life but pro birth. Once you're out of the womb you better have rich responsible parents or you're on your own, see also the SHIP veto. I guess they expect a kid to pull him or herself up by their bootstraps.

I also want to emphasize this is not about charity or goodwill. Society as a whole gains if those kids are able to make something of their life and society as a whole loses if they end up in criminality later on.

Again the choice is whether we're all in this together or is it everyone for himself?

Answer 8

Unfortunately, poverty generally tends to be generational. It is very hard for parents to actually parent when they spend most of their time worrying about if the can meet the rent, pay the utilities and how they will feed the family. The rest of the time is spent feeling drained from the poverty. Not much time for optimum parenting. As a rich nation, we should be doing more for underprivileged children to give them a fighting chance at breaking the poverty trap. Early intervention, regulations restricting high school drop outs, parenting classes, access to quality childcare and mainly, better enforcement for dead beat parents as most poor children are living in single parent households.

Answer 9

Of course, everyone deserves better but living or growing up in such a state of poverty can affect a child in various ways. They can become preoccupied with making it big and having a lot of money and see themselves as a victim and attempt either successfully or poorly to go up the ladder. They could also become immune to it and think such a life is normal or average and not try to live better on their own.

Answer 10

I once read that your intelligence is for 50% genetically dependent and the other half can be develloped / destroyed by opportunities / stimulants you get in your youth. So yes, children from poor neighborhoods are drastically disadvantaged... I think the disadvantage is more than missing 1 year of school...