I guess the hypothesis could be that the lower income parents either work so hard that they don't have the time to spend with their kids to get them ready for school because they work too much, OR the lower income families aren't interested in their children's educations at all? *shrugs* I'm no scientist, but this seems logical?

Posted by Kim - November 18, 2003 01:47 AM

I don't know for sure. I told W last night that I could pick her brain for days over her experience by her involvement in school boards and education. It fascinates me to no end. I'll have to ask her what she thinks of this.

Posted by Adam - November 18, 2003 07:45 AM

I have had a lot of involvement in school boards and administration also, but I don't know the exact cause or even have a sound theory. I think that the scores are to be expected though, since lower income families have a greater rate also of being involved in crime, domestic problems, alcoholism, etc. The list goes on and on. It just goes to show that maybe liberals have a point when they blame so much on poverty. By the way, I was also a free lunch kid, but I always scored in the top of my class on tests. I wonder if the scores would show the same for the higher levels of education. I think that they might actually even out a little for older kids.

Posted by Memnoch - November 18, 2003 11:28 AM

This is kind of along the same lines, but I was looking at the Baxter Enquirer...I mean Bulletin's website today and looking at the publications for the past week. It had an article about smoking and how it was attributed to lower income, lower education. It all fits together in one way or another...

This article talks more about Baxter County than in general--http://www.baxterbulletin.com/news/stories/20031113/localnews/632145.html

Posted by Kim - November 18, 2003 05:22 PM

Hmmmm.. well, i don't buy the parent involvement thing (no offence Kim ;). I guess it could have an impact, and in fact i'm sure it does - the problem is i have never met a family where the parents gave a damn about the kids education. Poor or otherwise. At least that i know of anything..

They're probly saying more along the lines of what Dan said.. something like "oh my god! Look what poverty causes! Their a discrace to our country! we should just kill them all!"..

Posted by MasterRa - November 19, 2003 07:13 AM

Well, I attribute most of my motivation in school to my mother. She was always there for me, encouraging me (or pushing me until I was aggrivated). I don't know though, maybe it's just me, but I don't think that I'd be where I am without my mother's guidance, I don't think I could have done it on my own.

I do realize that many people have to do that and make their own encouragement and find that sense of belonging withint their friends. I guess I was just lucky?

I can't say "in most cases" without more research, but it just seems that parental involvement rather than just shunning kids helps, rather than hurts.

Posted by Kim - November 19, 2003 10:06 AM

I too would be nowhere without both my parents, in education as well as all aspects of my life. It may seem rare to some people, but it is pretty clear to me. With so many irresponsible people raising children today, there are still some damn good parents out there.

Posted by Adam - November 19, 2003 10:18 AM

well....in my meager experience in it all i would have to say my parents supported me to the point of.....do good.......thats abut it....oh thats not to say they didnt say good job!....but the answer started to sound a bit canned....i probably doesnt help that im pissed at my parents right now but....they were usually to busy to help....oh well...

Posted by Dale - November 19, 2003 05:19 PM

Well, I didn't realize that Adam's parents played any part in helping him with school, but then i didn't know them much in the early years.

My experiences were more like Dales, unfortunatly. My parents yelled and threatened me, if i didn't do good, when i was younger, but that was about it. When i was older i was pretty much left alone, but then, by that time i guess you don't really need help.. or want it, for that matter.

And i'm sure my parents were a lot more involved with me than most, or at least a fair ammoung of others are. Like Adam said, there is a pretty big number of unresponsible parents out there..

Posted by MasterRa - November 19, 2003 07:32 PM

My mother and father fought to hell and back to make our school give my brother the education he deserved. It came much easier for me of course. I'm not that much of a trouble maker, you see.

Posted by Adam - November 20, 2003 11:17 AM

My mom helped me a lot when I was young, but she gave up when life went down. I still did well, and my parents always encouraged me to do well, but they never put in much effort, cause I always did well on my own. When I moved out, Keith and Deb helped me out a lot too. Not doint things for me, but just encouraging me for doing well, and trying hard. I think more than anything, then answer isnt one simple reason. It is a combination of every small difference that exists in a poor family as compared to a wealthy family. There is the fact that the rich have a lot of influence, more time to spend on their kids, less domestic problems, and all in all happier lives, even if people do say that money can't buy happiness. And if you are a social darwinist, then you might even be led to believe that the rich are rich cause they have better genes which leads to their children being smarter overall, and doing better in school.

Posted by Memnoch - November 20, 2003 03:59 PM