Internet Assignment

Turn to the NJRCL report and pay specific attention to the information provided about Essex County, and the concerns, challenges, and recommendations in the report. Review the six families in Unequal Childhoods, and make connections between the NJRCL report and the realities these families might face if they lived in Essex County, NJ.

 

Look at the two reports from the LSNJ on living in poverty. What further information can you glean from the reports regarding the struggles the poor families in Unequal Childhoods might face if they lived in NJ?

 

            The NJRCL report and the two reports from LSNJ on living in poverty in New Jersey and more specifically Essex County are full of quality information regarding the subject. 

Here is some information gathered that opened my eyes.  The average rent in New Jersey for one adult and two children is $1320 per month.  The average insurance in New Jersey for one adult and two children is $340 per month.  The self- sufficiency wage for the same size family is $22.10 per hour.  In Essex County the self-sufficiency for 1 adult and 1 child is $40000 per year and $67000 per year for 2 adults one child.  The most alarming statistic to me is the difference in the poverty level between federal and Essex:  17600 and 40000 respectively.  The websites also showed information regarding the high taxes in NJ as well as the high price of essentials such as food and insurance.

Some of the families in Unequal Childhoods would not be able to live in Essex County and some would have to change the lifestyle that is being led.  The Tallingers, Williams, Handlons, and Marshalls would all survive in Essex county but would spend more and thus save less.  Families like the Brindles and the McCallisters  would not be able to survive on welfare in NJ much less Essex County.  The working middle class families: Taylors, Drivers and Yunellis would all be ok in NJ but would have to led very stingy lifestyles which would include living in very small housing and most likely inner-city spots in an effort to save money.

 

Finally, turn inward and think about who you are as a budding urban educator. In what ways is this information useful (or not) for you? In terms of better understanding a community? What do you need to learn, or what skills and dispositions (frames of mind) do you need to develop related to demographics and economics to be a successful urban educator?

 

This information was an eye opener and useful for me because I never truly knew how large the discrepancy in cost of living was between the national average and New Jersey.  I have always heard family and friends speak of New Jersey being such and expensive place to live but being twenty three and growing up in the suburbs I have yet to cover all of my personal expenses and thus was unaware.  As a future educator its important to understand where our students come from and the hardships that may be reality at home.  On a personal level I enjoy learning about new cultures and environments and feel that adapting to your in environment is a necessity as apposed to having your environment (students) adapt to you.

 

 

 

Inquiry Introduction

The growing Hispanic minority in the United States has far reaching consequences.  The 2000 U.S. census shows that the population continues to grow and projects a population of 47.8 million Hispanics by the end of the decade (McCaffrey, 2007). The Latino dropout rate is more than three times greater than non-Hispanic: “white alone” dropout rate (Fry, 2003). These large numbers impact our public education.  The purpose of my research is to explore the gap in Latino achievement and to consider possible solutions.

            My paper will address the reasons for low performance of Hispanic youth, identify behavior management modifications, present effective instructional strategies and discuss school practices to promote achievement by Hispanic students.  My research has included statistical data on Hispanic students.  I visited the ironbound section of Newark, which has a predominately Hispanic population.  I also visited Barringer High school in Newark as well as Snyder High school and interviewed Mr. Guess Della Pia, Assistant Superintendent of Newark Public schools and Mrs. Regina Della Pia, social services coordinator and former high school teacher of Jersey city public schools.  These first hand experiences helped me to draw some conclusions regarding the educational problems and needs of Hispanic students.