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Original Source | The New York Times
By Nicholas D. Kristof, Thursday March 25, 2010
Before I ask for a drumroll and reveal "the secrets" of fighting poverty, a bit of background:
For a quarter-century after World War II, the United States made great progress against poverty. Then in the 1970s, we fumbled. Over the last 35 years, our economy has almost tripled in size, but, according to the United States Census Bureau, the number of Americans living below the poverty line has been stuck at roughly 1 in 8.
One reason is that wages for blue-collar and other ordinary workers peaked in the early 1970s, after adjusting for inflation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A second is the breakdown in the family and the explosion in single-parent households. A third is the quintupling of incarceration rates beginning in 1970, making it harder for impoverished young men to play a role in families or get decent jobs.
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Prisons don't use reading scores to predict future inmate populations |
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Original Source | The Oregonian
By Bill Graves, Tuesday March 23, 2010
Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian
The D Block at Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem is part of a growing state prison system. But the future needs of the prisons in Oregon and elsewhere are not determined by looking at third-grade reading test scores as some education leaders across the nation continue to assert, prison officials say.
A prominent early education researcher at Yale University told me five years ago that California uses third-grade reading scores to plan for its prison space. A story in Education Week ten years ago said Indiana does the same, except using second-grade reading test results. A quick search on the Internet reveals similar statements from a principal in residence at the U.S. Department of Education, an officer in the International Reading Association and by several op-ed columnists.
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Beaverton police chief weighs in on preparing children for service |
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Original Source | The Oregonian
By Geoff Spalding, Tuesday March 23, 2010
Your article "A new mission for the military: Fight the flab" (March 18) was a real eye-opener, especially the fact that less than 30 percent of 17- to 24-year-olds currently qualify for the Army. The article noted that besides being overweight or obese, many young people are not able to serve their country because they have not finished high school. I am aware of still another major disqualifying factor for military service among young people: having a criminal record.
All of these factors speak volumes about the need for all of us to do more to help our children grow up to become fit, well-educated and law-abiding members of society. Investing in early childhood education contributes to the development of individuals who are well-adjusted and better educated. As a longtime supporter of early education, I know research shows that children who participate in quality early care and education programs are more likely to finish school and become responsible adults and less likely to engage in criminal behavior. That's good for our military and helps make our communities safe.
-- Geoff Spalding is chief of the Beaverton Police Department |
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Professor: Literacy is key to ease poverty |
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Original Source | Statesman Jounal
By Ruth Liao, Saturday February 13, 2010
Understanding the fundamentals of poverty can help community members grasp the importance of promoting literacy among those in need, an Oregon State University professor told a crowd of early childhood teachers, child care providers and community members on Friday morning.
"We explain poverty in this country as something as, 'Well, it's your fault,'" said Leslie Richards, a human development and family sciences professor.
Richards has studied families and poverty, particularly in rural areas, in Oregon for decades.
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