Education: The Curse Of Generational Poverty

Over the last century society has taken great strides in its quest to improve quality of life. We have improved access to necessities like clean water and healthcare and ushered in social reforms that have made life more comfortable. Yet, pockets of people remain overlooked, marginalized on the fringes of society. People who live in destitution, who suffer the curse of generational poverty, lead very difficult lives. They struggle to earn a living and to feed their families. Their children face an uphill battle in the struggle to escape the clutches of generational poverty (Rogers). Much thought has been directed at how we, as a country, can defeat this terrible scourge. While many solutions have been proposed, ranging from raising the minimum

Educated people tend to care more about their surroundings; they are more civically engaged and seek to make a positive difference in the world around them (Roy). They contribute to the positive ambience of their communities and promote orderliness. People who are less educated, especially those without a high school diploma, are several times more likely to end up in jail (Dillon). On the other hand, educated people who are employed contribute to the economic vitality of their communities. Finally, as was mentioned in class, educated people serve as role models for those around them, standing as beacons of hope for a life after

As Dr. Gran noted, “salad fork” knowledge is crucial to success in the work force. Intangibles, like learning how to interact with peers and how to respond to authority, are a vital part of a student’s education. In his speech, Dr. Petrucci highlighted these crucial skills to explain the pay discrepancy between people with a high school diploma and those with a GED; while both sets of people know the same things, the former went through high school and learned to interact effectively with other people. Additionally, education provides people with a network of friends and teachers, people who can support them as they search for employment. These crucial benefits of education are not “taught” per se; rather, they are transmitted through osmosis, through the atmosphere that an educational institution cultivates. These skills are just as valuable as any book skills that students learn and they assist people tremendously in their quest to stay out of poverty by aiding them in their quest for