How Education Keeps Kids in Poverty

“The rigor of our education system is so high that many kids are left out of the middle class,” writes Kandice Sumner on her website. “We have failed our kids and we must turn the tide.” She tells a personal story about her two kids, who were both disadvantaged, and the injustices and discrimination she faced. In the end, her story reflects the frustration many people have with our educational system.

Matthew Desmond

The author of “Evicted” explores how a lack of wealth affects children’s lives. He chronicles the plight of eight families who live in Milwaukee’s Southside and inner city. The story is compelling, because the author spent years living with the families while conducting his research. He finds that a lack of education doesn’t just keep children out of poverty.

Kandice Sumner

The talk is based on Kandice Sumner’s own experience. She was raised in an urban neighborhood and graduated from a suburban school system through a voluntary desegregation program. She then went on to receive a college education at Spelman College, a historically Black liberal arts college, where she was honored with Phi Beta Kappa status. She has since been a teacher in underserved neighborhoods and crossed racial and class barriers.

Bill Gates

If you’re a teacher, you probably don’t like Bill Gates’ comments on education. While he has spent his fortune pushing education initiatives, he has also been upsetting teachers for years. His recent comments on education left one Bolivian minister fuming, and the minister reacted in a manner that many teachers don’t. So how does a billionaire fix the education system in America?

Kate Cliatt-Wayman

For 32 years, Cliatt-Wayman taught in Philadelphia public schools, where she saw first-hand how education keeps kids in poverty. Her work as a principal in Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion High School helped raise test scores. In fact, the school was taken off the federal Persistently Dangerous Schools list when she took over as principal. Since then, the school has improved test scores every year. In 2012, the school was taken off the “Persistently Dangerous Schools” list, and Cliatt-Wayman’s efforts have been documented on television by nightline and Diane Sawyer.

Kate Gallagher’s TED Talk

Dr. Kate Gallagher delivered a TED Talk in April. It became UNC’s most-watched talk of the year. Recently, she gave a sequel to her talk at a TED event in Memphis, Tenn. In the talk, she described the work of FPG’s Abecedarian Project and the transformational power of early childhood education.