Kids and The Viscous Cycle of Poverty

The cheating scandal within the Atlanta Public School System has dominated the news for the last few weeks.  The scope of the scandal is breathtaking and it will be a long time until all the facts are unraveled and the damage assessed.  Unfortunately it will likely be an even longer time until the damage caused to the children of the school system can be corrected.

In all of the fallout from this tragic episode we must ensure that we do not lose sight of the fact that the impact of a failure to educate children today has longer term implications.  The viscous cycle of poverty and dependence that many find themselves in is, more often than not, directly tied to a lack of education or inadequate education.

The cycle of poverty is not difficult to understand.  Each of us lives within a socioeconomic system whose parts interact with each other.  If the system is working well it favors personal growth.  If not it thwarts growth and accelerates decline.  If, for example, I don’t have a job, I don’t earn money.  If I don’t earn money I can’t buy food for my family.  If my son or daughter doesn’t have sufficient food they suffer malnutrition.  If they suffer malnutrition they can’t study well. If he or she can’t study well they won’t graduate from school.  If he or she doesn’t graduate from school he/she may not get a decent job.  If they don’t get a decent job they won’t earn enough money to buy food.  And so the cycle begins again.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution, in an editorial on July 15, 2011, addressed this issue of education and poverty in the context of the APS cheating scandal.  While addressing the need for reform and change in the system they also made the case that it is only through a holistic approach to our school and communities that real progress can be made in helping our children. One memorable line in the editorial said: "Children’s horizons are heavily influenced by their surroundings, we all know that. Effective learning can’t occur until we find new ways to better counteract harsh outside-of-school realities facing thousands of students. "
The cycle of poverty cannot be broken at the school level unless effective learning can occur. And effective learning cannot occur when children are hungry, or living in rat infested hovels, or subject to daily exposure to violence and drugs, or unloved and un-nurtured.
 

St. Vincent de Paul, through the work we do every day in our community, strives to address the challenges associated with breaking that cycle by addressing the needs of the community.  In some cases those needs involve programs that drive a systemic change approach.  Other situations call for urgent, immediate help that can address need without going beyond basic support. 

We will continue to define, develop, and implement programs that can support our local community volunteer conferences in their efforts to help people in need.  These efforts include creation of partnerships and collaborative programs with other nonprofits, the business community, and others.  Because we know that you cannot Change Lives unless you change circumstances.

The APS cheating scandal is a tragedy.  Children caught in cycles of need and dependence are a greater tragedy.  We must work together to correct both.  Let's get to work.

John Berry

CEO and Executive Director