Failure to thrive

The impact of poverty on student achievement was once verified in a column by Joe Nocera in the New York Times. “Social scientists have contended — and unquestionably proved — that students’ socioeconomic background vastly outweighs what goes on in the school as factors determining how much they learn.” He also reports that the members of the public school reform movement seem to think that good teaching alone can overcome such obstacles.

Consider that poverty-stricken parents are much more likely to be greatly stressed, unemployed, living an unhealthy lifestyle and not getting good (if any) medical care. They are more likely to produce offspring who have two strikes against them even before school age. Problems can start in utero. Was the mother affected by damaging chemicals such as organo phosphate, etc. in such products as “Raid” and weed killers, etc. that cause brain damage, lead to low birth rate, decreased IQ, ADHD etc.? How much do the parents smoke and/or drink? Was the mother malnourished when the baby was conceived and throughout her pregnancy? Did she have prenatal care? Did she suffer from high stress and psychological problems? All can have much to do with the health and intellect of the newborn. Obviously, a child born under such circumstances is more likely to experience learning difficulties.

A related editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle a few years ago was quite startling. “Many Americans might be surprised, if not ashamed, to learn that a nation of great wealth and profession of family values ranked 31st of 44 developed countries in Save the Children’s annual ranking of conditions for motherhood.” This covered everything from our high rates of maternal and infant mortality to single mothers trying to raise families in a society where public policies (like maternity leave and day care) are weighted against them. It revealed a serious lack of concern for the well-being of many children in this country.

As the child grows, we need to ask: Do the parents value education? Do they provide materially and psychologically? Do they operate by a set of values that lead to healthy living? Is the child protected as much as possible from chemical pollutants in her surroundings, in her food, and in many household products and furnishings? Does the child get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast? Does he miss little school because of illness? Is he protected from violent and erotic television and the kind that provides constant stimulation and denigrates anything intellectual? Are the parents free of addictions? Do they speak English? Does the family have access to essentials like medical care, decent housing, nutritious food and adequate child care? Does the child spend quantity time with a loving adult who nurtures her, plays with her, reads to her and makes her feel appreciated? You can’t expect a child who hasn’t enjoyed most of the above to thrive.

Of course there are many ways our schools could improve, but for any substantial gains to be made, they need the cooperation of family and culture. Expecting our educational establishment to make scholars of children from families who have not provided them the kind of background and environment that leads to success in school, is very unrealistic, especially when schools are so often underfunded and the curriculum has been so manipulated as to easily overlook the many individual differences among students. But until more of our families and children are valued in a way that contributes to success in school, many of our schools will continue to have a tough row to hoe. Family and culture inevitably intertwine.

“We clearly should invest more in our educational system. Schools can and should do more to prepare youngsters for productive employment, but they will continue to fall short of the mark unless we support parents and give them the time and the resources to do a better job by their children. Our educational system cannot compensate for the tasks that overburdened parents no longer perform.” — Sylvia Ann Hewlett, “When the Bough Breaks — The Cost of Neglecting Our Children.”

Since 1984, Dorothy Dimitre has written more than 950 columns for various local newspapers. Her email address is gramsd@aceweb.com.