Quotes
Princeton economist Alan Krueger states that "parents' income correlate to their adult children's incomes roughly as heights do."This quote is important to the reading because your parents' heights can determine how tall you will eventually become. Krueger also gives an example saying that parents who are 5'6" are not likely to have a child who grows to be over 6'1". This relates to the adult children's income because if your parents are poor, then there is a slim chance that the child can become rich. Lastly, Krueger states that "'it happens, but not often.'"
"The best metrics of child poverty aren't monetary, but rather how often a child is read to or hugged. Or, conversely, how often a child is beaten, how often the home descends into alcohol-fueled fistfights, whether there is lead poisoning, whether ear infections go untreated. That's a poverty that is far harder to escape."Kristof is saying that child poverty is not about how much or how little the parent's make, but rather about how the child is treated at home and how issues are solved. It does not matter how much money the family makes, as long as the child is well-taken care of. The environment in which the child lives has to be safe and inviting. There cannot be alcohol related fights or dangerous illnesses lurking around. Children who grow up in homes like the quote says are living in poverty. Children who grow up in homes completely different from what the quote says are not living in poverty.
Money does not necessarily mean poverty.
"'Rich kids make a lot of bad choices,' Professor Reardon notes. 'They just don't come with the same sort of consequences.'"It does not matter what type of economic background you come from because as kids, we all make mistakes, but the consequences are much different. Of course the more money you have, the lesser consequence you have, especially if the parents are well-known. Families that are not well-off financially tend to have different consequences because they do not have the same benefits. It is completely true that rich children are better off. An example of this in Rhode Island is when Gov. Lincoln Chafee's son, Caleb Chafee, hosted a graduation party that served alcohol and sent one woman to the hospital. Because Caleb is Chafee's son, he only had to do community service and pay a fine. Basically a slap on the wrist for what he did.
Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
You do not need to be categorized by what your family makes or by how you are treated at home. As long as people try, they can be anything they want to be. Just because your parents have fights after they drink does not mean that when you grow up, you will do the same. You can see that it is bad and change it in your life. You are in control of your life and your parents' income should not reflect your future. I do not understand why this is still an issue today.
I agree that the environment in which a child grows up in determines their level of poverty more than money does. A family could have all of the money in the world, and that child could still be struggling if they are not getting the love and care that they should be. On the other hand, a child whose family lives paycheck to paycheck but receives love and support, could be much happier.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that a child needs to be loved and taken care of. You can clearly see a difference with children in need and children who are in a "well-off" family. It frustrates me to see children that live in poor homes and with parents or other family members that do not take care of them. Love goes a long way, especially in a child's heart. It doesn't matter if the child lives in a home where the family makes no enough money, it all matters on the family treats the child.
ReplyDeleteI agree when you talked about how people are treated unfairly when it comes to consequences and where they come from. The situation with Caleb Chafee makes me mad because if it wasn't for who his dad was, he would of had worst consequences. I all matter where people come from in this society and it isn't right. This makes me think of situations when children from higher income homes are caught engaging in the kinds of activities that most people think children of low income families are to be in. When I clicked on the word different and went to what you hyperlinked it,I thought it tied everything I was thinking of at that moment in. Children who have the two parent living-style at home, money, etc., are expected to be the kids that don't engaged in trouble like drugs and parties with alcohol but I think all the privilege they get in ways leads them to messing up. They think they can do whatever they want because the consequences don't effect them badly. I also agree with your statement that being in poverty doesn't mean that you just don't have money. It's also about how child are treated at home. Money can't buy you happiness and I think that is an important topic to talk about. In the end, money isn't people and I think without people, you don't have that love and support you need to be happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about how poverty does not necessarily mean how much money children grow up with or how much he parents make but how well they re treated at home and if they cared for like any other child should be. It brings out a good point about how that is a large part in why some people don't get the chance to make their own path and go to college and be successful because of their families and lack of opportunities. It really does impact who children see the world, either they see it as something terrific to jump into and make a fantastic career or continue to stay local and follow in their families shadows. And that is why much of education todays needs to be focused on children and showing them that they can achieve anything they want, with work and confidence.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said in regards to all three quotes. I also agree that those who do come from a hard family life does not mean that they will follow their parents footsteps as they grow up. However, I do believe that people who come from a family that is supportive, caring and happy, low income or high income, can achieve their dreams.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statements regarding all three quotes. I like what you said for an example in the last quote. Someone who is well-known will have a different consequence compared to someone that is not well-known. More well-know people will get a slap on the wrist for what they did wrong and be looked past unlike those who get a more extensive consequence.
ReplyDelete