Understanding the culture of poverty : an evaluation of a school district in-service
Date
2002
Authors
Jones, Caron J.
Corr, Katherine E.
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Education
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Education, 2002
Abstract
School District #59, in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, is addressing a desire to meet
the needs of students who live in generational poverty. The first step in this quest is to
create awareness for education staff, of the Culture of Poverty as described by Ruby
Payne, inA Framework/or Understanding Poverty. She stipulates that poverty-prone
children are likely to suffer developmental delay, exhibit more behaviour problems, and
drop out of school more than middle-class students. However, she contends these same
children can be successful in school with the appropriate understandings and strategies.
With district financial assistance, the authors undertook a project to share Payne's ideas
through workshops and to evaluate the effectiveness of this in-service with district
educators. The four guiding questions used to evaluate the in-service are: will educators
find the Poverty Workshop a positive professional experience, following the workshop do
educators intend to implement Payne's strategies, after a three-week interval do educators
use Payne's strategies, and after a three-week interval do educators perceive improved
student achievement, or behaviour. Workshop evaluations provided feedback for
analysis, which led to recommendations regarding data collection and in-service delivery.
The authors concluded the workshops were successful in terms of design, delivery, staff
receptivity, and reducing educator anger and frustration. The data also indicates there is
little or no improvement on student achievement or behaviour within the time frame
considered.
Description
ix, 79 leaves ; 29 cm. --
Keywords
Teachers -- In-service training -- British Columbia , Poor -- Education -- British Columbia , People with social disabilities -- Education -- British Columbia