Julie's Early Childhood Studies: The Hardships of Poverty

Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Hardships of Poverty

I thought I had several international contacts from various countries and on different continents. However, when I provided them with the assignment and the intention for use of the information they shared, one of the contacts told me it would be unethical for her to give me her opinions on the topics and asked if I could remove her name from my blog. I have yet to hear back from anyone else. I am not sure how to take this. I explained the assignment and literally copied and pasted the assignments within my emails with them. Why would it be unethical to share your views on poverty in your country or what your hopes and dreams are about early childhood education in your country? I think it is interesting that people cannot share their own opinion even within countries, which are Democratic in nature.

So, I am forced to choose the alternative assignment and listen to podcast. I found this week’s reading, about the different country's endeavors to eradicate poverty, bland to read. Each country seems to be working in the same manner to solve the problem. I could not get personal with the reading or gain the emotional insight; I so much want to learn. I work for the government and read articles and "Status" summaries often. They are usually exaggerated and do not accurately reflect the status of what is happening in the lives of the real people. Often time’s things are built up to make one person shine.

I have read about Mongolia, utilizing information I gained from Child Poverty (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=countryo#12). Mongolia had a shift in political power and had attempted to make many changes, however the changes have not helped those suffering from poverty. Unemployment soared and the assistance for the needy diminished. The health of children under five plummeted. The literacy rate has also been affect negatively. The governmental investment into preschool and education has been drastically cut; enrollment into education programs has dropped considerable.

Efforts seem to be underway for change; however, significant reform is needed to ensure success. It needs to be a priority of all, not just one party or population segment.

2 comments:

LJohnson said...: Hi Julie,
I want you know that I understand exactly what you are saying. I am torn when I think about the problems of poverty that affect the world. I do not want to be selfish but it concerns me more of the proverty that affect the people in my community. I see so many commericals that ask for help in other countries. There are people/children sleeping in the streets in my own back yard. I struggle wanting to support other countries over helping people that is closer. Maybe because of the other international problems that is going on it is so overwhelming for me. I hard to see how I can make a difference so for away. For me it is easier to see that changes that I make in my community because I can see how it helps the people that I live closer to. Thanks for the information.

Latina Johnson; January 21, 2012 at 7:43 PM
The Early Childhood Manoir said...: Julie,
I share your frustration. However, I have travel in some countries where internet access was so hard. In some places, I had to go to internet cafés and pay to have access. Sometimes it is purely logistics. I think the university should create its own network of professionals the students can actually contact. Most of the emails I took bounced back except for the German contact. There are so many international students why not use them. This is such a wonderful learning opportunity, and they should make it happen. Informative information on Mongolia.; January 22, 2012 at 5:30 PM

My Supports

Within my daily environment, I find the computer and
internet to be supportive to my needs. It supports me within my private and professional life. While at work I use the internet to receive training, seek professional development opportunities for our staff, find resources for families, search for websites to help with curriculum development, find out
information about possible field trip locations, print maps, keep current in NAEYC accreditation updates, and receive newsletters from professional organizations.
Within my private life, the internet provides my schooling,
recipes for healthy meals, weight loss tracking, shopping, keeping in touch with friends and families, maintaining my pet’s certifications, and entertainment.
The benefits of my computer and the internet are numerous. I
am able to sustain relationships from people in distant locations; I can further my education, maintain good health, saves time, and energy, and be more resourceful at my job.
If I did not have my computer or internet, I may not be able
to continue my education in the field I desire because the local university does not offer the course of study I wanted.
If I had to go to the library or elsewhere to do my schoolwork, it would take me away from my family for many hours during the week. If I did not have my computer or internet at work, I would not be as resourceful to staff, families and children.
If computers and internet service was not available to me at
any location, I would have to drive to the different helping agencies in my community to find resources. I would have to call NAEYC for updates and resources. I would probable talk a great deal more on the phone. I would attend expos and conferences to learn about companies who have goods and services for children as well as attend the workshops.

I am often nervous about completing homework
on Sunday’s. I often have physically debilitating migraines, which effect my cognitively as well, as physically. My thought processing is inhibited and I have to hibernate in a dark room. I take a daily preventative medication, which lessens the frequency. However but, still several times a month I get excruciatingly bad headaches.
I have incredible support from my family, doctors, and medication. My family supports me by taking on the responsibilities of the house, being quiet, providing me
with medication, and a cold compress for my head. My husband and daughter will pick up the medication from the pharmacy, or bring me to the Emergency Room if
the medication does not provide relief. My doctors are amazing. My neurologist is very thorough through diagnostic test and experimenting with a variety of medication. She is trying to improve my quality of life. The Emergency Room staff
provide a quiet dark environment, and medication which relieves the pain within a few hours.
The benefits of these supports allow me to recover more quickly, fell loved, and allow me to finish
any required work. Without the support system I have for my migraines, I would be in pain for a number of days, losing work and unable to complete homework assignments. Without my daily medication, I would have more frequent and
intense migraines. I would be isolated in my bedroom without being able to engage with my children or husband. Without my husband and children as supports, I would feel isolated and helpless. I would not be able to complete homework by
the required due date. The ramifications of not having quality supports would prevent me from furthering my education.
Without the reassurance of my supports, my life would be a great deal more secluded, hinder my professional growth, and inhibit my quality of life.

Quotes to Inspire

On Parenting:
"Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with it."
Dr. Hiam Ginott

On Teaching:
" I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element int the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."
Dr. Hiam Ginott

On Respect:
"Respect according to [people] should not depend upon the way in which they spend their working hours. In a social sense there shuld be only one class- The great class of humanity."
Eglantyne Jebb

On War:
"All wars are waged upon children."
Eglantyne Jebb

On Passion:
"I have a passion to create a safe and just world."
Louise Derman-Sparks

On Motivation:
"It's an instrinsic motivation, knowing the work I do will benifit the lives of children."
Raymand Hernandez MS Ed

Personal Childhood Web

Having a large family has been a complete blessing to grow up in. I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters. My parents we married for over 50 years. My dad passed away 5 years ago and my mother is still living in Plattsburgh Ny in the same house we lived in when I was growning up. My dad was 1 of 4 and my mom 1 of 7. I have 56 first cousins who I know very well growing up. It is difficult to pick just 5 people who influenced me the most. But here goes;

My dad was a hard working small business owner. He worked hard and provided for his large family. We had everything we needed and then some. He was French Canadian Indian with dark brown hair and a bushy mustache. He taught me how to work hard. He taught me many life skills, which help me throughout ever given day. I have manners and a lot of common sense. I can eat at fancy restuants and talk about world politics, realigions, and travel destinations. We watched 60 Minutes together every week and also snuck in a bit of Sunday Morning before Church. He taught me to dress up if I was going to the bank, lawyers or doctors. Most importantly he taught me patience.

My mother is a short little woman who while growing up always had a belly. She is French and Irish. Mom taught me to believe in Jesus Christ. She always had food in the pantry and on the stove. She taught me hospitaility. She also taught me how not to cook.

My brother Bryan is a short little guy with a bit of a belly on him. He is just a couple years younger than me and we think he has William's Syndrom. but he has never been diagnosed. He taught me to be tolerant and accepting of everyone. He taught me that playing your air guitar and dash board piano is perfectly acceptible for an adult as you drive down the road.

My Aunt Delima was my dad's sister. She died only a year before my dad. She was a large woman with jet black hair and a loud voice. She lived about a half hour from us but, we got together quite oftern. She taught me that family was always worth your time. She came to every family gather no matter how small. She baked the most amazing Christmas goodies and to this day Christmas is not the same. She taught me the importance of family.

About Me

Saturday, January 21, 2012

The Hardships of Poverty

2 comments: