1. Defining & Describing Poverty

2. Stratification
Is the division of society into categories, ranks, or classes is called social stratification
Functionalist Theory – view stratification as a necessary otherwise many jobs would not be filled…you work hard to become a doctor because it pays more
Conflict Theory – the owners of the means of production control the working class in order to make profits and maintain their power in society; once in power the rich maintain their wealth

3. Class vs Caste Class Caste
Resources and social rewards are based on achieved statuses
A person has control over their status through talent, effort, etc.
Caste
Resources and social rewards are based on inherited statuses
A newborn’s status is dependent on their parents

4. Class v Caste Caste Class They cannot move to a higher status
You cannot marry outside your caste and you must work in a job in your caste
Class
They can move to a higher status
You can marry outside your status and work any job

5. Defining Poverty and Hunger
Poverty – is the lack of basic human needs, such as clean water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter, because of the inability to afford them
Hunger – the condition of people who frequently live with the desire to have food

6. Why Are People Poor?
In groups, determine why each group listed might be poor
Immigrants
African Americans
Seniors
Children
Veterans

7. Reasons Why People Are Poor:
Lack of education
Health, handicap, age
Caused by their environment
Lost their job
Addicted to drugs/alcohol
Bad spending habits
Lazy/unmotivated
War & natural disasters
Discrimination
Wealthy don’t give much benefits or money to workers

8. Effects of Poverty Low self-esteem Child soldiers and laborers
Rates of illnesses increase
Life expectancy decreases
Inadequate nutrition
Less access to medical care
Inadequate and unsafe housing
More likely to commit a crime
School funding is usually based on local property taxes, so low-inome areas are often inadequately funded

9. Poverty Persons in family Poverty guideline 1 $10,830 2 14,570 3
18,310 4
22,050 5
25,790 6
29,530 7
33,270 8
37,010
For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,740 for each additional person.

10. Poverty
1.4 billion people live on $1 a day; 80% of the population live on $10 or less per day
39.1 million live in poverty according to U.S. standards in our country

11. Hunger 1.02 billion people are chronically hungry
Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes

12. Largest Growing Segment of Poor
Are children!
1.5 million are homeless in the U.S.
Why?????

13. School Uniforms For Arguments: Against Arguments:
No one knows who is poor if everyone wears school uniforms
Poor kids aren’t made fun of
It saves money
Uniforms make it easy to identify kids who belong in the school and those that don't
Against Arguments:
Uniforms suppress individualism and creativity
Parents find some uniform items to be expensive and that they can never be worn outside school

14. Educational Vouchers – gov’t money to send poor students to private schools
For Arguments:
Rich parents have a choice of schools for their kids; poor parents should have the same choice
The current public education system is failing countless students, particularly in inner-city neighborhoods, so students should be able to go to better schools
No student would be forced to enter a religious school
Against Arguments:
Since most of the schools in the program are religious, government funding violates the 1st Amendment separation of church and state
The government vouchers may not cover transportation costs or uniforms
The public education system had helped many children, regardless of their ethnic background or religion

15. Educating Homeless Kids – Separate vs Integrated Schools
Separate Arguments:
Not humiliated
Everyone treated equally at the school
Can give more attention
Tries to keep kids in school to increase learning
Offer special services that integrated schools don’t
Some public schools aren’t doing the job
Public schools are more expensive
Integrated Schools:
It is segregation
Schools would “dump” kids in a separate school
Aren’t as rigorous
Are pitying kids and lowering standards