Poverty and Education - Case Study Example

Introduction A mention of New Jersey to a person who is just new in New York might be an exhilarating thought; a thought that might induce feelings of a perfect place, an out of harm's way state, a crime free milieu and a home for people with a good comfy life. However, not all cities are the same in New Jersey. There are some which play host to some of the richest individuals in the USA, have superlative schools where every parent would desire their children to attend, have the highest levels of security and whose residents have an income that is enough to provide them with a luxurious life, or a struggle-free life in that case. However, there is another side of the picture with cities whose characteristics are the exact opposite of the aforementioned. The residents know the lowest levels of poverty, racial discrimination and segregation is high, and majority of the people are not only unemployed, but a big percentage of their kids do not go to school. This situation aptly describes Newark City in New Jersey (City-Data). This city has a population of approximately 227,000 people, and disappointingly, it had a poverty rating of 32% in 2013 (City-Data). The unemployment levels stood at 16% and the percentage of graduations from high schools and colleges was 22% (Spotlight on Poverty). In spite of its being large, Newark is among the cities which have a record of the highest levels of poverty and the lowest quality of education in New Jersey (Nutt). It records a very high number of crimes and a high number of school drop-outs every academic year. Why is this case? What makes this democrat-governed city a place which is associated with poverty? This work embarks on a discussion on the major causes of poverty and the poor education in Newark, and will also show the relationship between the two, carefully bringing out how the two factors are intertwined. The two categories of theory (absolute and relative) shall first be discussed and the theories proposed to explain the existence of poverty shall briefly be explained. Categories and theories of poverty To most residents in Newark, there is no difference between absolute poverty and relative poverty. This is because on a poverty scale, a big percentage of this people lie on the extreme negative side of the scale. For clarification, however, it is wise to make a distinction between absolute poverty and relative poverty. In absolute poverty, the individuals in this category lack the most fundamental essentials and needs. For example, they do not have clean and safe water to drink, have little food and have copious housing and education issues, and most of their children have no access to education (Weebly). On the other hand, relative poverty describes a situation where people have access to basic needs but they cannot afford to be luxurious. Their income only strictly and adequately covers for basic needs without as much struggle like those on the absolute poverty category (APA). Even when they manage to take their children to schools ranked as relative high performers, they have to make some sacrifice to do this. Poverty is an extraordinarily convoluted phenomenon, and economists and researchers have been working hard and conducting numerous studies in an attempt to fathom it, and in a bid to provide measures on how poverty can be eradicated. Theorists and scholars have put forward diverse suggestions in an attempt to describe and explicate why poverty exists. Some of them propose stereotypical suggestions, and many people, unfortunately, are quick to adopt them. An example of a theory proposed suggests that the people are in the condition of poverty out of their own free will. They argue about this, with specific American states and cities in mind. To them, America is a land of possibilities and those who remain poor are so out of their own free will (Weebly,) Another theory suggests that the poor remain poor due to their “live for the moment” rule. They argue that the people who live in poverty stricken areas do not think or pay considerations to the future. They are content to live in their status so long as they have the basics for everyday. Lastly, others argue that the poor remain poor due to their inability to handle challenges (Salamon, 170). An example is given of the many people who rely on welfare for their everyday survival. The proposers of this theory argue that this people are content to receive support from the welfare in their cities instead of working for skimpy salaries. The disadvantage of this, they argue, is that once the poor refuse to move out of their comfort zones, they miss out on chances and opportunities which would have opened up for them from their humble and their poorly paid jobs (Salamon, 171). Factors leading to high poverty levels Poverty is an issue that has been there for ages. In 2011, NJ.COM reported that the child poverty level in Newark had spiked to 32%, drawing a comparison with the state figure where the rise was just 8% (Calefati). What are the reasons for the high poverty levels and for the low levels of education? The reasons and factors for the two are intertwined as shown herein in the discussion. One of the major factors for the high poverty and low education levels is the high rate of unemployment. By 2013, the unemployment rate in Newark stood at 16% (City-Data). This state of worklessness is an issue of major concern. In Newark, the people who are employed are very few, and a big percentage of those employed people earn a meager unsatisfactory salary. When a parent is unemployed, the children grow up in a poverty stricken home and consequently, receive poor or no education at all. This leads to a cycle which keeps on recurring and the levels of poverty keep rising (APA). If one does not get a good education, the chances of getting a descent job is very low and hence, this uneducated children will later start their families in a poverty stricken area, and the cycle continues. Another factor that has greatly contributed to unemployment is the lack of quality education. In Newark, very few children have the chance to attend a school. The daily increasing poverty levels deny the children a chance for proper education. Victor Hugo has been credited for coining the phrase “He who opens a school door closes a prison” (Spotlight on Poverty). Simply put, Victor was trying to illustrate the imperative value and quintessence of education. Education has been termed as the key to many doors, and it allows a person to move from one economic status to another. This best explains the constant and great campaign for equal education for all children in USA. Education is a deliverance from social injustices and social problems (APA). However, in Newark, education is accessed by very few people due to the fact that a majority of the parents are way below the federal poverty level. This means that very few of them access education in the higher levels and this greatly contributes to the rising poverty levels. In addition, the cost of living in Newark city is rising every day. Compared to its neighboring cities, Newark’s cost of living has greatly increased in the past few years (Calefati). When this happens, the number of people who can access basic social amenities and education drastically reduces. In any case, people struggle to fulfill their fundamental everyday needs (Salamon, 168). Another factor attributed to the rise in poverty is the increased crime and use of drugs in the city (Citi-Data). One may not understand the relationship between crime and poverty. In 2013, records showed that the rate of murder crime in Newark city placed it as being the 7th in USA (City-Data). When this happens, the breadwinners are usually targeted and when there is no source of income, what happens? The cycle of poverty thus keeps recurring and developing. Records show that between 2005 and 2012, the number of crimes in Newark increased from 2821 to 3219 (Calefati). As a result, the population decreased from 281,063 people to 278,906 (City-Data). Most of the people who moved from here did so citing insecurity and increased crime as the major reason. In addition, those who moved were in the category of those who earned a high income. This people are the ones who develop projects and give back to the society in form of employment. When they move out, it definitely means that the society misses out on such opportunities. Inadequate benefits and lowly paid work have also been cited as factors that contribute to the growth and increase in poverty. Low and poor education levels As earlier mentioned, education is key to the development of any society. In Newark, one of the most affected and a stagnant area in terms of growth is the education sector. Statistics from 2012 indicated that only 88% of individuals have a high school degree, and only 36.2 % have a four year college degree (Spotlight on poverty). This shows that the level of education in Newark, though it has improved from 2008, is still not satisfactory. One of the major factors that can be attributed to the poor levels of education is poverty. As earlier mentioned, a poor society offers little or no education to its residents. In addition, there is proved evidence that children from poverty stricken families perform poorly in class as compared to those from better or well-to-do families. This is because those from the high income families can afford to enroll their children in better schools, pay for their extra tutoring sessions and provide them with the necessary resources and facilities. This can be illustrated by a research which was conducted in 2011 in Camden School Elementary, a school where most of the students are from relatively poor families. It was realized that only about 10% of the students in the third grade level effectively comprehended the studies of their level (Nutt). This was compared with a similar research at Branch Brook Elementary, a school whose population comprises of children from relatively well-to-do-families. Here, about 83% of the students who were in the third grade showed remarkable proficiency (Nutt). The relationship between poverty and education can also be depicted in the diagram below where proficiency increased with an increase in income. The research was conducted in some schools in Newark. Another factor that affects the level of education in Newark is the quality of leadership in schools. In 2012, Newark Schools Superintendent, Cami Anderson lay off about fifteen principals from the schools they headed. She cited their incompetence and lack of qualifications as the main reasons for laying them off (Nutt). Cami argued that with the high rate of poverty in Newark, the principals and all leaders in the schools should be highly qualified to ensure that the curriculum in the school is tailored to meet the demand of the society. Education is no longer what it was in the past (Nutt). Today, students should be taught on how to maneuver (lawfully) their path in the society, overcoming the hurdles and barriers to make a difference in their society. In 2013, the executive director of advocates for children in New Jersey, Zalkind Cecelia, acknowledged the state of education and poverty in Newark. She therefore advised that all people, especially the leaders in institutions must realize the harsh realities and the challenges faced by the students and advised that children should be furnished with not just the knowledge to read and write, but also with the skills to find their way to better chances and positions in the society (Calefati). This means that if Newark had strong education leadership, the quality of education would be better. Racial segregation is also another factor contributing to the low level of education. Over years after Brown versus Board ruling, Newark still tries to address racial segregation issues. There are schools which are still predominantly white whereas others are majorly comprised of non-white students. The children in the non-white schools have been noted to perform poorly as many teachers do not want to work here. Many graduates in Newark are those from the predominantly white schools whereas the black populated schools produce very few graduates. If the issue of racial segregation would be aptly addressed, maybe the levels of education would increase. As earlier mentioned, there is a relationship between the factors leading to high poverty, the factors leading to poor education level and additionally, there is a relationship between poverty and education. Conclusion In conclusion, it is an undeniable fact that Newark still has miles to cover in addressing the issues of poverty and level of education. Cory Booker, Newark’s former mayor tried to address both by creating employment. Such included the Bartlett Dairy and the Manischewitz among others (Spotlight on poverty). This is just but one of the many solutions that can be taken. To aptly address poverty and educational issues in Newark, the whole society, most especially the government has a role to play. Employment creation, quality and equal education chances, subsidizing individual businesses and community empowerment are just a few of the steps to address poverty. On the other hand, eradication of poverty, good and quality leadership in skills, eradication of social bigotry and creating sensitivity on the need for education will greatly help in improving the level and quality of education. But until corrective measures are taken, the plight of this city remains the same. It shall continue to be in the headlines for high rate of poverty, the many crimes and drug issues among many others. Works cited American Psychological Association. “Education and Socio-economic status”. AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.com. November 2013. Web. 5th May 2014. Calefati, Jessica. “Newark’s child poverty spikes 32% in 2009-11”. NJ True Jersey. Com. 16th December 2011. Web. 5th May 2014. City-Data. Com. “Newark, New Jersey (NJ): Poverty Rate Data-Information about poor and low income residents”. December 2013. 5th May 2014. Nutt, Amy. “Cami Anderson, Newark schools superintendent, at logger heads with school board”. NJ, True Jersey. Com. 27th February 2014. Web. 5TH May 2014. Salmon, Gayle. Here are the dogs: Poverty in theory. A Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies, 21(1), 169-177. 2010. Print. Spotlight and Opportunity.org. “New Jersey, Poverty, demographics and population statistics”. Spotlight on Poverty.Org. December 2013. Web. 5th May 2014. Weebly.com. “Poverty at large: A dark spot in the community”. Www.Weebly.com. January 2014. Web. 5th May 2014. Read More