1. Changes in American Society
EDUC Chapter 3

2. Self Assessment
1. In the U.S. the least likely family pattern is a) a single-parent family. b) a blended family with children from previous marriages. c) children living with grandparents or other relatives. d) a two-parent family with two children and the mother staying at home. 2. Which of the following is NOT true of U.S. families? a) Families headed by married couples make up over half of all households. b) The majority of women with children are in the workforce. c) The poverty rate for families headed by single parents is roughly comparable to that of the general population. d) The divorce rate has increased from 1978 to In Roughly 40-50% of first marriages end in divorce.

3. Changes in American Families
Traditional family—husband as primary breadwinner, stay-at- home mother, and 2 children—makes up only 6% of U.S. families.
68% of families composed of married couples.
70% of women with children work.
Nearly 40% of children live with single parent or some other caregiver.
Poverty rate for single-parent families nearly 10x times higher than for families of married couples.

4. Families Childcare: before and after school
Latchkey: problems with lack of supervision
Discussion: How does this impact the teacher?

5. Self Assessment
3. Which of the following is NOT included as a factor in socioeconomic status (SES)? a) Occupation b) Marital status c) Income d) Education level 4. Which of the following is NOT true of poverty in the U.S.? a) Poverty in the U.S. is comparable to poverty rates in other industrialized countries. b) Poverty is more common among minorities. c) Poverty is more common among families headed by single mothers. d) Poverty is more common among children.

6. Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Education
Socioeconomic Status (SES): The combination of family income, parents’ occupations, and the level of parental education
Poverty in the US is 5 times greater and other industrialized countries. 1 in 5 U.S. Students live in poverty.
Poverty USA Organization Website

7. Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Education
Fulfillment of basic needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Family stability
School-related experiences
Students learn as much during the school year. Middle class students gained ground over the summer while low-income students lost ground.
Interaction patterns in the home
Parental attitudes and values

9. US Socioeconomic Classes
Upper class
$170,000 +
Educated, professional occupations
Middle class
$40, ,000
Educated, white collar, skilled blue collar
Working class
$25,000-40,000
Blue collar, high school education, maybe some college
Lower class
Below $25,000
Unskilled labor

10. Impact of SES
Middle and upper class parents tend to include their children in adult conversations and ask their child’s opinions.
Middle and upper class homes usually have many books and periodicals.
Ratio of verbal encouragement: scolding
Toddlers of professionals 6:1
Toddlers of working class 2:1
Toddlers of poverty 1:2

11. Impact of SES What are the unique needs of the homeless? Homelessness
Each student needs a school that is safe, nurturing, and demanding with teachers providing high expectations and effective instruction.
Children of poverty
Lower birth weight
Poorer vision, oral hygiene, nutrition, medical care
More lead poisoning, asthma
More mobility – move schools
Higher absenteeism
Homelessness
What does it mean to be homeless?
What are the unique needs of the homeless?

12. Changes in our Students
Alcohol & Drugs
Crime & Violence
Obesity
Sexuality

13. Student Sexuality
Experts estimate between 3 and 10% of US students are homosexual
Student struggling with same-sex feelings tend to be depressed and have higher rates of drug use and suicide.
Sexual harassment: unwanted and/or unwelcome sexual behavior that interferes with a student’s sense of well- being
4 out of 5 students reported sexual harassment in schools
Students feel powerless, worthless
U.S. teenage pregnancy rate highest among Western industrialized countries
Almost half of teenagers report being sexually active, some before age 13
Controversies in sex education center on abstinence-only versus more comprehensive approaches

14. Alcohol and Drugs
Over half of all students tried an illicit drug by the time they finished high school.
75% of high school seniors reported alcohol use, 47% in the last 30 days.
45% of seniors experimented with marijuana or hashish.
50% of seniors, 39% of 10th-graders, and 26% of eighth-graders reported smoking cigarettes.

15. Drug Deaths in US – Opioid use
Opioids (over the counter prescription pain meds)
US = 5% of world population, but uses 80% of opioid world supply
Year
Number of Drug related Deaths
1980
6,100
1999
17,000
2010
36,300
2013
44,000
2015
52,400 (33,000 from Opioids)
2016
59,000 (37,000 from Opioids)

16. Obesity Becoming a national epidemic that starts during school years
Exacerbated by multiple factors:
Sedentary lifestyle focused on TV and computers
Diet
Lack of exercise
School soft-drink policies

17. Crime and Violence
While a serious problem, incidence of crime and violence has decreased in recent years
Students safer in schools than in their neighborhoods
Crime and violence related to poverty in neighborhoods
Student concerns highest at middle school level

18. Bullying More common than many adults realize
74% of 8- to 11-year-olds and
86% of 12- to 15-year-olds reported bullying in their schools
Often occurs in places in schools outside the classroom
Often ignored by teachers
Requires a school-wide effort

19. Table Discussion
How do social cruelty and bullying affect the students involved?
Where are social cruelty and bullying most likely to be found in schools?
What can teachers do about the problems of social cruelty and bullying?
What are your thoughts on Cyberbullying?

20. Schoolwide Safety Programs
Establish polices and consequences
Visitor sign-in
Closed campus
Teacher monitoring
Police presence
ID badges
Transparent backpacks
Breathalyzers
Intensive Interventions 5%

21. Zero-Tolerance Policies
Students automatically suspended for offenses involving weapons, threats, or drugs
Mandated by Congress and enforced by 75% of all schools
Supported by teachers (70%) and parents (68%)
Advocates claim they work, making schools safer.
Critics question their effectiveness and find flaws in implementation, especially for minority students.

22. Table Discussion
What are the major goals of zero-tolerance policies? What are the advantages and disadvantages of zero-tolerance policies? What could schools do to minimize the negative effects of zero-tolerance policies?

23. School Uniforms
14% of public schools current have a school uniform policy. (NCES)
A school-wide effort to combat crime and violence
Popular in many districts and supported by courts
Critics claim
Violates students’ individual rights
Unsubstantiated effectiveness
Advocates counter with these claims
Improved discipline and classroom behavior
Increased school attendance and respect for teachers
Better school performance
Lower clothing costs and social stratification
Decreased crime and violence

24. Child Abuse Teachers required by law to report
Teachers protected by law if they report
Possible signs include
Neglected appearance
Sudden changes in either academic or social behavior
Disruptive or overly compliant behavior
Repeated injuries such as bruises, welts, or burns

25. Dropout Problem Can have a significant effect on subsequent earnings
High school graduates earn 34% more than dropouts
High school dropouts earn $260,000 less over a lifetime
Closes the door to college
Influenced by student ethnicity and SES
Individual teachers can influence through caring and effective classroom practices.