Framework for Understanding Poverty

Rating:
Summary: A must reading for educators.
Review: Dr. Payne's book is essential reading for educators. Those who supervise people in the workplace who have roots in poverty would also benefit greatly from reading this book. It will affect the way in which you manage people. Dr. Payne makes all of us accutely aware of our own roots, our own middle class values and mindsets. A Framework for Understanding Poverty should become a part of every school's professional library. It will change the way in which you teach and discipline children from poverty. Our knowledge of children from poverty, and our skills in working with children from poverty must increase. Having worked as a teacher and administrator for 32 years, I have seen the impact of poverty on our schools firsthand. The growth rate for this segment of our population demands that we begin to look seriously at how we as educators interface with children from poverty. As members of a democratic society, we literally cannot afford not to attend to the issues related to poverty. Reading Dr. Payne's book will put you on the right path for your journey.

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Summary: Aha! for everyone
Review: For teachers, counselors, church staff, and social workers, this is a must read. It has more "aha" statements than any book I have ever picked up.

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Summary: John Calvin in a dress
Review: I confess that I read "Nickle and Dimed," and "America's Keenest City" with skepticism. I couldn't believe that the worst of Calvinist principles were coming back. But here it is in Framework in all it's glory. Here we are, with the concept that the poor are that way because of their immorality and poor thinking skills and that the big brother of the upper middle class can get the surfs to stop their stumbling and backsliding. What about teachers who come from poverty? What about what stumbling blocks that Ms. Payne's class put in place? I was almost waiting for Ms. Payne to speak of the "White Man's Burden" of another century.

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Summary: Generalizations and Stereotypes Predominate
Review: I found both good and bad aspects to this book. First, I was shocked at the liberal use of generalizations and stereotypes provided about low-income families. And, it doesn't support a "strengths-based" perspective that is important in any human service endeavor. What was useful was the emphasis upon the need for low-income folks to be "bi-cultural" if they are to participate in "middle class" society. They don't have to accept "middle class" standards but need to demonstrate them to some extent if they are to "get along" in the "middle class" world. At least knowing the "middle class" culture gives them more options.

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Summary: Good information but doesn't document sources
Review: I found Dr. Paynes book to be helpful in dealing with youth from a low socioeconmic level. It is a beneficial book that gives great insight into the lives of many of our youth. It is a must read for educators, counselors and law enforcement . However, Dr. Payne does take liberty with some information that is clearly wrong. In her book she points out that intelligence tests are discriminatory and were developed solely for the testing of our children. The intellegence test that is widely used has under gone extreme reviews and has been found to be useful. The debate continues on whether the test is culturally sensitive but overall has passed this test as well. Intelligence test were originally designed for the military. They were used in helping place service men in fields that they would exceed in. They were not originally developed to test our children as Dr. Payne claims in her book. I would recommend her book because it gives a different view that is helpfull in working with children.

Rating:
Summary: Useful information
Review: I found the book insightful and useful for anyone working with or helping those in need. It even demystified some differences in attitudes and values that I see in myself and friends/family -- not in amounts of money, but in beliefs & problem solving. My mother grew up quite poor, but was taught "middle class" attitudes and beliefs. It depends on how we were raised and what values we absorbed and learned to live by, many of which we are not aware. Each group sees the world and how to deal with it differently. I don't agree with reviewers who say it is bigoted or prejudiced. I think those conclusions reflect their OWN beliefs, values and world view, in which facts offend them. I do agree that more practical solutions would be helpful.

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Summary: Square Pegs in Round Holes
Review: I had the privelege of attending an in-service on the book by Dr. Payne. I have taught for 10 years, 6 of which have been at an "at-risk" school. When I went to this school I had little understanding of the students since I had come from a predominantly middle class school. I just assumed that they would function as my other students had. I struggled to understand why most of my students behaved and performed academically as they did. I figured out on my own that these students were different and adjusted accordingly. If I had had Dr. Payne's book at the beginning I would have adjusted earlier and taught with more impact! I found that when I read the book there were many "AHA!" moments, those "Now I understand!" moments. It reminds me that once again as an educator all our students are not square pegs that we are to make fit into round holes. We are "molders" not "carpenters". I supervise student teachers and will most definitely recommend that they read this book and make it a part of their professional library.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting ideas
Review: I have read the negative reviews and the positives...the book is not all five stars. It is not poverty that elicits certain behaviors, but the values & education level the family holds. I don't believe poverty equates to all the things Ms. Payne suggests, but values and level of education do. That is why we have so many "wealthy" people in America who behave like those Ms. Payne has characterized as the poverty class--their values and education are lacking. I work with immigrants, many of them display the characteristics of the "wealthy" set, though they are quite poor. The book is a generalization, and there are truths and like any generalization, there are dangerous falsehoods. It is illuminating for me to read it though and see that the behavior I see in my classroom is more universal than I thought. So for me it helps in some abstracted way, but nothing to herald as fact.

Rating:
Summary: Excellant
Review: I have worked for the Texas Department of Human Services for the past ten years, and wish I had read this book before I started. Understanding the culture of poverty is needed in order to facilitate the growth of those in poverty on the economic social and educational ladder. While this book addresses the overall aspects of the poverty culture, it fails to properly document the other aspects that affect the learning process, such as child abuse and cultural differences. In all, this is a book worth reading for not only teachers but anyone who works with those in lower income levels. The book is a treasure.

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Summary: It is true-to-life
Review: I recently reread this book after recommending it to a friend who is moving to a school where most of the students are from poverty. It is very straightforward and full of useful information. Did you know that having food at parent-teacher conferences, and providing child care will allow for higher attendance from people of poverty?