1. Grade 9 “Promoting Respect” Workshop Classism Greater Mankato Diversity Council Rev. Feb. 12, 2018
This is for facilitators only:
The goals of the lesson:
Understand that circumstances that families in poverty face
Understand the concepts of wealth and safety nets and how this impacts families
Classism is discrimination based on social class…typically the upper class discriminates against the lower class.
Develop compassion and understanding of families in poverty
Before you start:
Introduce yourselves to the teacher
Ask teachers if you should know something about this class
Ask teachers to fill out the evaluation during the program

2. Introduction And you Instruction:
One of the facilitators introduces GMDC and today’s topic.
Facilitators introduce yourselves—possibly mention something about you that is relevant to the topic of the day:

3. Estimated Cost of Living
An estimated cost of what it takes to have your basic needs met.
For a family of four in the Southeast region of Minnesota, the cost of living is: $60,288
Source:
Annually 60,288 = monthly $5024= daily $165
Questions:
Does that sound a lot of money to you or not enough money? We might have different expectations based on our own experiences within our families.

4. Cost of Living The $60,288 cost includes the average monthly expenses:
Child care $
Food $
Healthcare $
Housing $
Transportation $
Other $
Taxes $
total
$ 5,114.00
Source:
Discussion Questions:
1. Is there anything you can think of that you use every day that is not included on this?
Examples:
Computer, cell phone, tv, entertainment, money for vacations, savings account, charitable donations
2. Are the things not included really needs or are they wants?

5. Statistics Minnesota’s median family income in 2016 is $63,488.
Based on the items listed as needs, would a family with this income be able to afford their needs?
Source:
Note to students: median is similar to average. Or 50% of Minnesotans earn less than this.
Answer: Yes, this income is higher than cost of living which means a family would have an extra $3,000 for needs not included such as a savings account, technology such as phone or maybe a laptop, etc.

6. Poverty Threshold
Poverty threshold is a guideline for what family income levels would be considered a family in financial need.
For 2017, the federal poverty threshold for a family of 4 is $24,600
Can you guess what was the % of people living below the poverty line in Blue Earth County and City of Mankato in 2015?
Source: aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines
Each year the federal government looks at an index for what is called a poverty threshold.
This is a guideline for what family income levels would be considered a family in financial need.
Blue Earth County: 19.1% (1 out of 5), City of Mankato: 26.2% (1 out of 4)

7. Group Exercise
What would a family do if the family has to live off an income of $24,600?
Facilitators should put students in groups of 4 to 6.
Facilitators should pass out worksheet.
During exercise, facilitators should walk around the room and guide students through what kinds of choices they have to make. Also, encourage them to think about what resources are in the area.
Some examples:
May have to live with other family members or rent a smaller apartment
May have to shop at second hand shops instead of big box store (goodwill, salvation army vs. target, Walmart)
May have to sell a car or give up both cars and use different type of transportation. Is public transportation even available in Southern Minnesota?
May have to use computer at library rather than have one at home. Why might this be harder? (hours they are open, privacy, costs for printing, etc).
May have to find a different job where adults vary shifts they work

8. Report/Discussion What choices did you have to make?
Was it hard to cut out some things?
What kind of changes do families have to make?
Facilitators, as asking each question, ask each group to report what they did.

9. Minimum Wage (Minnesota)
Small employer: $ 7.87/hour (=$16,370/year, 2 adults: $32,739/year) Large employer: $9.65/hour ( =$20,072/year, 2 adults: $40,114/year) As of January 1, 2018
Source: MN Department of Labor and Industry ( )

10. Discussion
You will note that even for two parents working a minimum wage, this would not meet all of the basic needs.
Do adults working at minimum wage jobs work hard?
Remember: the cost of living for a family of four was $60,288.
YES! And sometimes the work can be labor intensive (on your feet all day, lifting heavy equipment, etc)

11. Safety Nets
Safety nets are things you have in case something goes wrong.
Can you think of any safety nets a family has if they run into a financial issue like losing a job, an unexpected cost such as a repair, etc? What might they do in this situation?
Ideas: savings, borrowing money from family, use a credit card, family that can help in other ways such as childcare, insurance or sell their house and use profit, etc.
Point to make with students:
Often, the hard thing for families with financial need is that they don’t have access to any safety nets. So, when one thing goes wrong such as a car breaking down, a family member loses a job, or a health expense, this can be devastating to a family with need.

12. Social Services
Social services are programs and resources that assist people who don’t have safety nets.
What kind of social program do we have?
affordable housing
assistance with food,
providing school lunches
medical care for example.
Possible Discussion Point:
Is it a families fault if they have an unexpected financial cost and don’t have a safety net? Mostly no.

13. Social Class and stereotypes
Simple Three-Class Model : the "rich (upper class)", the "middle class", and the "poor (lower class)”. Most definitions of class structure group people according to wealth, income, education, and type of occupation
Sometimes we stereotype higher income people (upper class) and lower income people (lower class).
What is a stereotype?
Can anyone give an example of a stereotype they have heard about someone who is in poverty or rich?
Introduce here the concept of social class.
Simple Three-Class Model : the "rich (upper class)", the "middle class", and the "poor (lower class).“
Most definitions of class structure group people according to wealth, income, education, and type of occupation

14. Classism Classism is discrimination based on class.
Does anyone know what discrimination is?
How are people in poverty treated differently?
Or people in higher income?

15. Reflection
What have you learned today about people with financial need?
How could you react or what could you say when a person stereotypes or even discriminates against someone who has financial need?

16. Closing
Regardless of our social status every one of us has the basic right to lead our life without fearing starvation, having no place to sleep, being harassed, intimidated or abused.
Classism and stereotypes regarding social class contribute to discrimination and judgment of other people.
The more you know about someone, the less likely you are to discriminate against or to judge that person.
Instructions:
Explain Key Points – using screen--Why do we need to learn and talk about classism?
“We expect that you are intelligent, dignified, and well-spoken young adults, but the whole purpose of this session is about the damage people inflict on others and on themselves when they unthinkingly use hurtful language and assumptions about other people.”

17. Feedback
1= Strongly Agree 2=Agree 3=Disagree 4=Strongly Disagree
Today I heard about the circumstances that impact families in poverty.
The exercises and statistics increased my understanding of poverty.
I can identify some of the feelings associated with being pre-judged or stereotyped as a social class member.
I have an increased awareness of prejudice and discrimination based on social class
Instruction:
Watch time.
One facilitator (or ask teacher’s help) distributes feedback sheets to the students. Explain 1, 2, 3, 4
Read questions out loud
Ask for any comments at the bottom.
Thank all the students for their participation and administer the feedback survey encouraging honest answers and comments on the bottom.
Please write any comments about this presentation at the bottom of the sheet.

18. Thank you!
Thank students and the teacher.