I am a theoretical physicist and currently Director of UCITE (University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education) at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I am the author of three books: God vs. Darwin: The War Between Evolution and Creationism in the Classroom (2009), The Achievement Gap in US education: Canaries in the Mine (2005), and Quest for Truth: Scientific Progress and Religious Beliefs (2000). Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog are my personal ones and are not those of UCITE or Case Western Reserve University. If you wish, you can send me an email by clicking here.
One in four American children now live in poverty. This report follows some who have been forced to live in cars and trucks. While the story is sad, what it reveals about the resilience of children, their ability to think positively and find ways to overcome their adversity, is heartening.
Comments
When I was in High School I had a teacher say in class that "No one goes hungry in America unless they want to" which I, a child who had seen her fair share of the insides of soup kitchens, took objection too. I'm kind of proud of my teen-aged self for standing up and saying "What about children??"
Being poor as a kid is particularly limiting... you're dealing with our society's prejudice that people who are poor somehow deserve to be there or should just work harder... and have no power to really improve your situation. You can't drive a car down to the food bank yourself when you're 8, after all. Not to mention the stigma of accepting charity and getting teased by other children.
Thank you for posting this.