“Education Nation,” NBC News’ forum on the state of education in America, inaugurated its nationwide series of teacher town hall meeting at Chicago’s Pioneer Plaza last Sunday. Area educators discussed several topics including whether under-performing schools in low-income neighborhoods should be closed and the inequalities of the funding system.
Last weekend, youth groups at Christ Church, in Middletown and New Brunswick NJ were challenged to fast for 30 hours, build makeshift cardboard dwellings, purchase food at local food banks, and assemble emergency meals for disaster victims. At the end of the participation, the kids gained a better understanding struggles with hunger and/or homelessness.
Then, there’s UNICEF’s latest study on disadvantaged children. Entitled, “Report Card 9- The Children Left Behind,” research by UNICEF’s Innocenti Research Centre focuses on disadvantaged children in the scope of three inequalities: material well-being, education, and health. Bob Coen’s article for Unicef.org highlights the heartbreaking and all too common circumstance of a young boy living in Camden, one of the poorest and dangerous cities.
In addition to childhood poverty, some interesting research has come out on poor families. Families living below the federal poverty line face the difficult daily task of allocating their limited income to their needs. According to a recent study for the Pediatric Academic Societies, rising health care costs have forced many of these families to sacrifice their health by delaying or going without medical care.
Also in the news — natural disasters. Last week’s tornado devastated the US south. It is considered the “worst natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.” Alabama was the hardest hit with more than 250 dead, 2,200 injured, and 13,000 affected by destroyed homes. Religious and humanitarian aid organizations have offered shelter to those now homeless, but a full recovery will take some time.
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