TheLensofPoverty

In695EthicsandIssues,Ilearnedthatpeoplesperspectives,filters,andthelensesby
whichtheirvaluesareviewed,impactshowtheindividualpersonthinks,survives,andmakes
choicesinanygivenmoment.Itisimportantforteacherstodissectinformationtoobtainan
accuratepictureofastudent.Theinformationgainedassiststheteacherinmakingadjustmentsto
studentinteractions..Partofastudentssuccessisdirectlyrelatedtotheteachersabilityto
understandtheindividualstudentandhisorherindividualneeds.

Standpointdeterminesviewpoint,saidonecollegeprofessorfromthe

UniversityofWisconsinEauClaire.Weekafterweek,thephrasewasrepeated.Fine,I
thought.MylifeexperiencesmustdefinehowIseetheworldaroundme.Semesterslater,the
articulationofadeeper,moredefinedideawaspresented.Informationandsubsequent
discussionfromtheideasofRubyPayneprovidedanewtomeconceptofhiddenrulesamong
economicclasses:poverty,middleclass,wealth.Discussioncontinuedfromaclasshandout.
Hiddenrulesaretakenforgrantedbytheclassthatpracticesthemwithassumptionsmadeabout
apersonsapproachtoworkorschool.Understandingthehiddenrulesofthedifferentclasses
mayhelpeducatorsbuildrelationshipswithparentsandstudentsinpoverty.Studentsfrom
povertyalsoneedtobetaughtthehiddenrulesofthemiddleclass.Educationisthekeyto
gettingandstayingoutofgenerationalpovertysoitisimportanttouseallofthetoolsatour
disposaltofacilitatelearning.,Onedayastudentwalkedintomyclassroomandsatwithhishead
restingonthedesk.Hesaid,Mrs.Houston.Idontfeelwell.Iexpressedmyconcernasking
ifheneededtoleave.Hestated,No,wedonthaveanyfoodinthehouseandIamhungryfor
lunch.Myfirstahha!momentoccurredtome.Thehiddenruleofeconomicclassdescribed

thisstudentsperspectiveaboutfood.Itsnotabouthowthefoodtastesorlooks,hisperspective,
throughthelensofpoverty,madefoodthedominantfocusinhislifeatthattime.Learningwas
secondaryatbest,tohavingenoughfoodtoeat.

Otherareasthataredefinedthroughthelensofpovertyincludemoneyandpossessions,

time,education,destiny,worldview,familystructure,andlanguagetonameafew.Eachareais
interrelatedandcyclicaltootherareas.Forexample,astudentwholearnstoliveinthemoment
andhastheirneedsrootedinsurvival,perceivesthehiddenruleformoneyisthatitistobeused
andspent.ThisstudentImorelikelytospendratherthansavethemoney.Spontaneoushabits
form.Studentsinpovertyoftenmakestatementslikethings[theirlives]willneverchange
becausetheirworldviewconsistsoftheenvironmentthattheyliveandseeeachday,in
comparisontothehiddenrulethatthisistheirfateordestiny.Thestudentnotonlyfacesthe
challengesofsurvivalinanygivenday,theyalsofacethechallengetochange.Educatorsface
thechallengetoprovide,ataminimum,hiddenrulesofthemiddleclasstogivestudentsan
alternatelenstoviewtheirlives.
Itisimportanttodissectinformationsothatteachersobtainanaccuratepictureofa
studentandmakeadjustmentstotheirinteractionswithstudents.Partofastudentssuccessis
directlyrelatedtotheteachersabilitytounderstandtheindividualstudentandhisorher
individualneeds.Effectiveeducatorswillconsiderthelensthatthestudentseeshisorherworld
throughinordertoexpandviewpointswhichallowthestudenttopersonallygrowtowards
successfuloutcomes.