I am totally not denying that there are families in desperate straits. I AM saying that what is considered "poor" has changed, and that the poor in America are still a hell of a lot better off than the poor anywhere else.
As for the stats at your school, this is what puzzles me. When did having a computer at home become a necessity? I'm sure your school library has computers. The public library has computers. I didn't own a computer until well after I was married - I used the ones available to me in my school computer labs, and then the public library. Newspapers and books are available at the library. Yes, it is wonderful to be able to afford books and newspaper subscriptions, but just because you don't get them at home doesn't mean they don't exist. My parents didn't have the money to buy me new books either. We picked them up at used book stores, and my dad brought me to the library every week. I still can't bring myself to buy new books - the markup is so dang high. I get the boys' books at used book stores or the library as well.
I totally agree with your last paragraph. Life skills need to be taught in our schools, since the skills are no longer taught at home. Basics like shopping and cooking, as well as budgeting and saving. The message being sent out is "you can have it all", when really, you can't. I'd be curious as to how many of those families who declared bankruptcy for medical bills already had credit card debt, or no savings whatsoever.
no subject
As for the stats at your school, this is what puzzles me. When did having a computer at home become a necessity? I'm sure your school library has computers. The public library has computers. I didn't own a computer until well after I was married - I used the ones available to me in my school computer labs, and then the public library. Newspapers and books are available at the library. Yes, it is wonderful to be able to afford books and newspaper subscriptions, but just because you don't get them at home doesn't mean they don't exist. My parents didn't have the money to buy me new books either. We picked them up at used book stores, and my dad brought me to the library every week. I still can't bring myself to buy new books - the markup is so dang high. I get the boys' books at used book stores or the library as well.
I totally agree with your last paragraph. Life skills need to be taught in our schools, since the skills are no longer taught at home. Basics like shopping and cooking, as well as budgeting and saving. The message being sent out is "you can have it all", when really, you can't. I'd be curious as to how many of those families who declared bankruptcy for medical bills already had credit card debt, or no savings whatsoever.