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Alissa Luthe

Professor Cathy Weems

EDU 351

19 October 2009

Payne-Upchurch Inquiry Paper

The Children’s Defense Fund began a Cradle to Prison Pipeline campaign to bring

attention to the fact that poverty is the strongest force in determining whether or not a person

ends up in prison. In a recent report the CDF claims that because of social or economic

disadvantages some adolescents are not only at-risk but destined to end up in prison. The report

adds that some are likely to die in a violent or gun-related, death. (Children’s Defense Fund 1)

The CDF report claims that “a black boy born in 2001 has a 1 in 3 chance of going to

prison in his lifetime; a Latino boy a 1 in 6 chance; and a white boy 1 in 17 chance. A black girl

born in 2001 has a 1 in 17 chance of going to prison in her lifetime; a Latino girl a 1 in 45

chance; and a White girl a 1 in 111 chance.” Minorities are more likely to live in poverty than

whites and the problem is not getting better. The CDF report states that between 2000 and 2007

the number of poor Latino children grew to 4.5 million and the number of poor black children

increased to 3.9 million. (CDF 1)

Social activist, Carl Upchurch shed light on his journey to prison in Convicted in the

Womb. It was not only poverty but also abuse and neglect that led him to prison. He lived in a

dangerous, poverty stricken ghetto in south Philadelphia and lacked caring adults, family

members or mentors who could give him positive direction in life. Upchurch had many

contributing factors in his life that put him in the cradle to prison pipeline. Education is one way
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out of poverty for some poor children but it didn’t work for Upchurch. He ended up dropping

out of school in the fourth grade. “The white teachers brought their white values into the school –

values that negated my world entirely. The message was subtle, but it was clear to me: everyone

I respected and loved was considered ignorant, irresponsible, and good-for-nothing.” (Upchurch

18)

In A framework for Understanding Poverty, Ruby Payne notes that many poor children

are not able to understand the formal register of speech that middle class teachers use in school.

They also don’t know the “hidden rules” and habits of the middle class. Poor children from the

ghetto use the “casual register” and because of problems in language those students do poorly on

tests and written assignments. “This use of formal register is further complicated by the fact that

these students do not have the vocabulary or the knowledge of sentence structure and syntax to

use formal register.” (Payne 28) For many Latino students Spanish may be the only language

spoken at home. When Latino students go to school there are sometimes communication

problems that can make learning difficult.

The United States Bureau of the Census states that more than one in six children in the

U.S. is poor. The federal poverty line for a family of four in 2008 is $21,200. The states with the

largest number of poor children are California and Texas. In Texas 23.2 percent of children

under the age of 18 are poor and 26.7 percent under the age of 5 are poor. In Sherman the

poverty rate is 21.90 percent for children under age 18. (U.S. Census) The poverty rate in

Sherman has major implications for me as a teacher. Children from poverty may not know how

to relate to the middle class and it gives me motivation to reach out to them to help them succeed

in school. The Census report also states that 12 percent of Sherman residents speak a language

other than English in their homes. Statewide more than 30 percent of Texas residents speak a
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language other than English at home. That is a major factor that could contribute to academic

problems for students in school.

Carl Upchurch changed his life around when he was in prison. He hit bottom and the

books he read inspired him to change. According to Payne “A situation that is so painful that

anything would be better” is one way people get out of poverty. She states the other reasons

people get out of poverty are; “A goal or vision of something they want to be or have. Someone

sponsors them (i.e., an educator or spouse or mentor or role model who shows them a different

way or convinces them that they could live differently). Or a specific talent or ability that

provides an opportunity for them.” (Payne 61)

One way a teacher can help is to inspire students to stay in school. Education is the best

way for the poor to escape poverty. But unfortunately many poor students struggle in school and

end up dropping out. According to the U.S Department of Education, only 59 percent of Black

students, 61 percent of Latino students, and 81 percent of White students graduated on time with

a regular diploma in 2006. (U.S. Department of Education)

Teachers who take a genuine interest in students can become mentors and role models

who help students to stay in high school and encourage them to go on to college. If students who

are at risk of dropping out of high school are identified early they could also meet with

counselors who could help them resolve some of the social problems they are facing in school.

Hiring more minority teachers who could act as role models would also help retain students. The

poor students could identify with them and understand their teaching methods. Latino and Black

support groups in school may be another way for minorities to form bonds and be encouraged to

graduate. The support groups could bring in meet successful minority members of their
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communities who might act as mentors. Minority leaders could encourage students to reach for

higher education goals.

In Texas schools English is a second language for many students. In their homes they

speak Spanish so school can be difficult due to language barriers. After school tutoring programs

and expanded English as a second language classes might help students who have language

usage and comprehension problems. It would also help if all teachers were bilingual so they

could relate better not only to the student but with the students’ parents during conferences.

If the drop-out rate isn’t addressed the cycle of poverty will continue. It hurts not only the

student but also society as a whole. Poverty means more crime, more government welfare, more

funding for law enforcement and prisons. Our country spends more on law enforcement and

criminal justice systems than we do on education. If our students were better educated we could

hopefully cut down on the prison population and cut costs. “Every year that we keep children in

poverty costs our nation half a trillion dollars in lost productivity, poorer health and increased

crime.” (CDF 2)

The Children’s Defense Fund recommends better health and mental health care for all

children and pregnant women. It also recommends early childhood development programs to

help give children a good start before they enter Kindergarten. Statistics show that Black and

Hispanic children are already behind when the start school. “Studies have shown that children

who do not get the early intervention, permanence and stability they need are more likely to act

out and fail in school because they lack the skills necessary to succeed.” (CDF 1)

As teachers our goal should be to identify all students who may be at risk of dropping out

of school and do all in our power to bond with them and encourage them not only to graduate but

to go on to college so they can be productive members of society. Teaching is the one profession
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where you have the chance to work directly with these students and make a major positive

impact and difference in their lives.

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Works Cited
Payne, Ruby K. A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Highlands, Tex: Aha! Process, 2005.

Print.

Children’s Defense Fund. Cradle to Prison Pipeline Fact Sheet. Web. 15 October 2009.

Upchurch, Carl. Convicted in the Womb: One Man's Journey from Prisoner to Peacemaker.

New York: Bantam Books, 1996. Print.

U.S. Census. Poverty Table. 2008. Web. 17 October 2009

U.S. Department of Education. The Nations Report Card. National Center for Education

Statistics. 2009. Web. 17 October 2009.