2 Income Inequality and Schooling Practices: Some Things to Consider

So, how does all of this impact upon children and schooling? As teachers, how do we attenuate the effects of poverty and income inequality on the academic and social success of our students? McKenzie (2019) believes that “If we are truly committed to closing the achievement gap between students raised in poverty and those raised in more affluent homes, we need to use the most current research, alter our classroom environments, empower students, teach social skills, embody respect, create inclusive classrooms, and recognize the signs of poverty” (p.21).

A recently released article suggests that “Children’s brains develop best when they have low exposure to stress in the home. Poverty and income inequality can create a series of emergencies that trigger stress hormones. These hormones have a dampening effect on brain development, which can result in an inability to pay attention, regulate emotions, or develop proper memory function” (Johnston, 2020, p.3). We do point out here that in no way are we intending to put blame on parents who are struggling financially for not reading to their children, or for the stressful environments in which children may be living; rather, we (and we believe this author also) are emphasizing that in families where daily financial struggles affect every aspect of the living conditions, parents may not have the resources available to read to or engage with their children in the same ways that families who are financially more comfortable may be able to do. It is not a case of parents not caring; it is a case of parents being unable, perhaps, in some instances, to do these things.

When we consider that one in five children in Canada live in a family where the household income is not sufficient to provide the necessities of living – food, shelter, clothing, and care – we must always be mindful that there is a constant give and take of decision making within these families about what will be paid this week or month, and what will need to be shorted or deferred to make the finances work.