Changes in American Society
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Changes in American Society Their influences on today’s students School is challenging for students, like teaching is for you Changes in American Families No “norm” to families 7 of 10 women w/children – work Divorce rate – quadruped (from 1978 to 2000) 25% live with their mother only 5% with father only 4% - neither Poverty among single-parent families – nearly 10 times higher than in families head by married couples. Changes in American Families “The combination of less time and less support results in children coming to school less prepared.” pg 39 What does this mean for you? Remember family patterns change When you say parent/dad/mom – that does not apply to everyone Communicate about different family patterns – show students that you care Child Care Quality – IMPORTANT High quality child care is positively correlated with children’s long term cognitive & emotional development, higher earnings later in life & greater martial stability Reduces: delinquency, teenage pregnancy, drug use and dropout rates Important for all, essential for children of poverty Less likely to have it Rate of participation has decreased Latchkey Children Children who return to empty houses after school and who are left alone until parents arrive from work 15 million children Concerns: safety, too much television, lack of help with homework Make sure students understand what is expected of them = more likely to complete homework Changes in our students Alcohol Drugs Violence Sexuality Suicide/Death Obserity Sexuality Nearly half of teens reported being sexually active by the end of H.S. – only 61% reported using a condom Teenage pregnancy STDs Teenage Pregnancy Though declining – US still has the highest rates in the industrialized world More than ½ of household headed by teen moms live in poverty Mom more likely to drop out of school therefore affecting her life (and that of the baby) Programs are in place, but still a majority of teen moms still drop out Sexuality STDs – 1 of 4 (girls) were infected with at last one form of STD Many school districts have implemented sex education Controversial Form content – varies Sexual Orientation & Identity No accurate figure (social stigma involved) Sexual orientation – labels – lesbian, gay, bisexual, straight Sexual identity – transgender Lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender students F eel rejected by peers & society = feelings of alienation & depression, drug use & suicide rates – considerably higher Discussions – controversial Sexual Harassment Unwanted and/or unwelcome sexually oriented behavior that interferes with a student’s life LGBT students Can interfere with a student’s learning and development Nearly half 7-12 graders reported being sexually harassed Negative personal consequences (poor sleep, stomachaches, absenteeism) 90% hear expressions “That’s so gay” You’re so gay” 6 of 10 reported not feeling safe at school Schools/teachers – better job making school safe Talk with students about the problem, emphasize that NO form of harassment will be tolerated Alcohol & Other Drugs Likely to have students who are very familiar with the abuse Teenagers who abuse: Damage to their health Car accidents Suicide School related problems Poor attendance, decreased learning, more likely to drop out Alcohol & Other Drugs Why start? Many reasons – not one answer What can you do as a teacher?? Your interactions with students about drugs & emphasis on a healthy lifestyle – crucial to successful efforts Talk about the problem & help students understand the benefits of dealing with their problem in a positive & proactive manner Obesity Major health concern 1 of 6 students – overweight Figure higher for students living in poverty & cultural minorities Face rejection from peers Government – stricter guidelines for school lunches – bans on soft drinks You can help: Talk about the foods you eat, & help students understand how their diets affect their health Modeling – powerful tool School Violence & Crime School violence is more common in some school contexts than in others Highest – middle school More common in urban schools Greatest in high-poverty areas Often associated with gangs (1 of five reported gangs were present at school) What can you do?? A lot Make sure that your students are learning & experiencing academic success & that they believe that you care about them & want them to succeed Students must have someone they can talk to at school Bullying A more subtle form of school violence that involves a systematic or repetitious abuse of power between students Damaging effects Possible links to suicides & school shootings Half of students report either being bullied or being the bully (higher) Most commonly learned (poor problem solving skills) Emotionally underdeveloped When it occurs, Immediately stop it. Intervene, use it as a teaching moment CyberBullying Use of electronic media to harass or intimidate other students Attempts to prevent – help students understand the consequences of their negative behaviors & teaching alternative prosocial behaviors Close with students – help them understand their actions School Wide Safety Programs Designed to make schools safe havens for teaching and learning Varies Zero-tolerance policies – calls for a student to receive automatic suspensions or expulsions as punishment for certain offenses Suicide 3rd leading cause of teen death (car accidents & homicide – top two) Girls – twice as likely to attempt Boys – 4 times more likely to succeed Causes – varies – most are related to the stresses of adolescence Indicators: Abrupt decline in quality of school work Withdrawal – friends/classroom Eating/sleeping habits change Depression Comments Child Abuse Often hidden – reliable figures hard to obtain Although abuse can occur at any level of society, it tends to be associated with poverty & if often linked to parental substance abuse Possible symptoms: Neglected appearance Sudden change in either academic or social behavior Disruptive or overly compliant behavior Repeated injury (bruises, welts, burns) Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Students Experts estimate – students spend 5 times as many hours in homes/neighbors than in school Learning in those environment Family – primary influence on students Gap between the rich & poor – grown in the last three decides Upper Class Composed of highly educated, highly paid professionals (bachelor’s degree or higher, making $170,00 or higher) 5% total population Gap between upper class and others – growing Middle Class Composed of managers, administrators & white collar workers TEACHERS $40,00-170,000 4/10 families Working Class (lower middle class) $25,000-$40,000 1/3 population Most high school education Blue collar jobs (manual labor – construction, factory work) College – reality for about 1/3 kids Lower class Makes less than $25,000 High school education or less Work in low paying jobs (entry level) 1/5 families ½ completes high school 1 of 4 – college Lowest – depend on public assistance Underclass People with low incomes who continually struggle with economic problems Escaping – very difficult Poverty = special challenges Poverty Government – poverty threshold – household income levels that represent the lowest earning require to meet basic living needs 2011 - $22,350 Nearly 1 of 5 students = poverty You will deal with the negative effects of poverty (regardless where you teach) Government – free/reduced lunch Most families do not participate Poverty Teachers report – 65% of students come to school hungry Snacks, help students sign up for free/reduced meals 5 times more likely to drop out of school Integration programs – busing, magnet schools, vouchers Research – effective Important Make sure you are staying up to date with your reading!! Homelessness Direct result of poverty Accurate count – difficult Kids – suffer inadequate diets & lack of medical care, fail to attend school regularly, suffer from a # of learning challenges, more likely to repeat a grade & drop out of school Urban school – target homeless children – send buses out, students can shower, wash clothes, clean underwear, changes of clothes, provide medical treatment. Homelessness You can help!! Being a willing ear to listen Make a special effort to maintain HIGH expectations for ALL students Research – dress/grooming factors can influence teachers’ instructional decisions Talk with experienced teachers about resources available Pass out information Socioeconomic Status & School Success Constantly predicts a number of indicators of school success, including achievement test scores, grades and truancy, dropout and suspension rates Experts have identified factors that allow for differences in achievement: Fulfillment of basic needs Family stability School related experiences Interactions patterns in the home Parental attitudes and values SES: Cautions and Implications for teachers Remember these are group differences, individuals within groups will vary WIDELY Avoid stereotypes – students are individuals Keep expectations HIGH for all students One program based on Ruby Payne’s book – has been criticized for stereotyping these children Students at Risk Are in danger of failing to complete their education with the skills necessary to function effectively in modern society At risk- medicine – which uses the term “risk factors” Term became popular after 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education – U.S. – a “nation at risk” Educational Problems High dropout rates Low grades Renton in grade Low achievement Low participation in extracurricular activities Poor attendance Misbehavior in class Low self-esteem Low test scores Lack of interest in school High suspension rate Background factors Low SES/Poverty Homeless Divorced families Inner city Minority Nonnative English speaking Environments with Drug/Alcohol Abuse Neighborhood – high crime activity rate The Dropout Problem Decrease chance of personal success, more likely to have problems with transiency, crime & drug abuse Min. wage jobs, earns 50% less than of a high school graduate More males drop out then females Unstable families, high rates of student mobility, higher graduation standards, exit exams In 2012, President Obama’s State of the Union address speech, he urged every state to require students to stay until 18 or graduate The Dropout Problem Survey Students: Were not motivated or inspired to work Classes not interesting Lack of challenge You as a teacher can make a difference!!! We need BETTER teachers!!! Government – teachers who produce achievement gains – up to $10,000 to move to schools with a large # of students at risk Students at Risk and Urban Schools Effective Schools Involve parents & other members of the community Full-service schools – family resource centers – social & health services Questions? What do effective schools for students at risk emphasize? What do effective teachers for students at risk ensure? What should effective instruction and support look like for students at risk? Effective Schools Safe, orderly school climate in which Academic objectives focusing on mastery of content Cooperation, a sense of community, prosocial values Student responsibility & self-regulation with decreased emphasis on external controls Strong parental involvement Caring and demanding teachers who hold HIGH expectations for all Effective Teachers Caring, demanding & hold high moral & academic expectations They refuse to let their students fail Activity involve students' in learning activities Provide instruction that is challenging, motivating & connected to students’ lives Design instruction so the ALL learn & they know it Confidence, self-esteem Effective Instruction High classroom structure with predictable routines Clear learning objective High levels of interaction between the teacher and students Frequent & thorough assessment Informative feedback to promote student success Emphasis on student responsibility
