Quote:
Originally Posted by jbdlfan
I'm not sure you understand the depth of this issue here. I can only speak about Marion county. I had a student once that wanted to join my after-school program. She was a bus rider and lived in the Forest. She walked about a mile to and from her bus stop. The way my program worked was that I had to get her approved through transportation before the driver would accept responsibility for her travel. She didn't clearly understand that concept and stayed after school one day. The buses had already pulled out and by the time roll was taken in the program, we realized we had an issue. Not a big deal for most folks. Just call a parent to come pick her up, right. Not so easy. I called mom and she didn't own a car. She had a neighbor who might be able to help. She had to walk about a half mile to their house and ask for help. The friend wasn't sure that he could get his car started. I waited on the phone as they tried and tried to get the car started. It finally started but they barely had enough gas to get to our school. I offered them a gas card for their troubles and they arrived at our school about forty minutes later. I know this is a long story but I hope it puts in perspective of the level of poverty some of these families experience. They rely on the "system" to get them by. In this case, the bus system to get the child an education, backpack of food for the weekend and free lunches. If this kids makes it through high school, she will be the first in her family to have a high school diploma. That my friends, is generational poverty......
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I see....I never saw that "type" of poverty growing up in N.E. We had poverty there as well but not the kind you're describing. I CAN understand that on this level these people do need help and education to get OUT of extreme poverty.