Framework for Understanding Poverty

Rating:
Summary: A "must" read for teachers who teach children in poverty
Review: I teach in an inner-city school where poverty is prevalent in almost every family. Not until I read Ruby Payne's book did I have an understanding of the differences involved when one teaches a child who is living in poverty. The book gives specific case studies that make you think and relate to poverty-stricken people. It then goes even further and gives the teacher examples of how to use the new knowledge in the classroom. It is, without a doubt, the best book I have ever read on the subject of poverty and how it relates to school children. I learned more from the reading of this book about how to relate to the students I teach than I have from any other book I've ever read about any subject. I have no reservations whatsoever in recommending this book to any teacher who truly wants to understand the individuals she/he teaches.

Rating:
Summary: It doesn't even deserve one star
Review: I think everyone should notice that Ruby Payne is a rich white Texan who self-published this book. I suspect that is because no publisher would want to be associated with her racist, stereotypical ideology. She makes claims about the three socio-economic levels of our society that will do nothing other than further stratify the classes of "wealthy" i.e. white and the "poor" i.e. blacks. It is horrifying, as an educator to know other teachers are buying her books and attending her seminars to learn how to teach urban youth, yet they are being taught nothing but insulting generalizations about minorities in our country. Payne is nothing short of a white supremacist.

Rating:
Summary: Bigotry at its best.
Review: I've read this book and had the misfortune of hearing her speak. While she is quite an entertaining performer,I think she has watched way too much T.V. She is quick to point out the difference as she see it between "generational poverty"(minorities) and situational poverty (white people). Of course she concentrates her trash on the former, not the latter. During her "show", she gives an example of what the lady, who "does her nails", has to say about "Mericka". Wok hart make much money. I assume in her offense broken english, Ruby was trying to tell us that the women was of Asian decent. Educators that believe anything she has to say about "poor people", are just as ignorant as she is, and should not influence our youth! After taking her little quiz, all the middleclass educators attending this conference were offended! Of course they do not view their children as property. Why then would you beleive anything this women, minus her sheet has to say about poor? Poor, loosely translated means minorities!

Rating:
Summary: Must Read for All Teachers - New and Experienced
Review: If you want to survive in the teaching profession and its changing environments, you really need to understand the motive and make-up of students coming from a different background than your own experiences. This is a must read for all teachers and administrators and is even better reading when used in Payne's seminars.

Rating:
Summary: Payne's book an eyeopener
Review: Payne does a wonderful job of showing how economic status influences a person's world view and affects his/her reality. She does this while allowing us to step out of our own reality and experience the view from other socioeconomic classes. For people who work with the public, it's a valuable resource.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible information from personal experience and research
Review: Ruby just spent some time in our school district. I attended an all-day seminar and, the next day, a luncheon where she was the keynote speaker for district administrators. Having perused her book ahead of time, hearing her speak made the book come alive. Read the book and, if you have the chance, hear Ruby speak about the topic of poverty. Your attitude and, indeed, your way of addressing issues with people who may be in poverty, will be changed in a very positive way!

Rating:
Summary: Don't bother; go volunteer at a homeless shelter instead.
Review: There are a few scenarios that may cause you to look at things from a viewpoint different from your own. Whether this makes teachers develop more compassion towards poor students is questionable to me. Most teachers I know already have that in place.

Rating:
Summary: poor
Review: This book does not provide any 'understanding' of poverty. It gives a very superficial and stereotype picture of poverty children and families. In fact, these stereotypes are part of the social problem of poverty itsef!

Rating:
Summary: A must for educators
Review: This book is a must for any administrator or teacher in a low-income school/district. It will assist in finding strategies and changing the way we look at our poor students.

Rating:
Summary: Should be required reading for all Law Enforcement Officers.
Review: This book links the connection between poverty and the learning system in a clear, consise manner. The "Hidden" rules are fact. The sections dealing with language levels, --verbal and non verbal are on target. It should be required reading for all Law Enforcement Officers. It is plain, factual, and goes at the root cause of failure to learn, failure to plan, function, and communicate. The result, -impulsive behavior that ends one up in the criminal justice system! Should be required reading for all law enforcement personnel Lt. Gary L. Hoffman, Director of Training and Education, Office of the Sheriff of Charlotte County,Florida.