Poverty doesn't define Athens teens, school system pushes for success

Stop the stereotyping and labeling, and this is not just a message to students.

The message is basically the same school system wide: “Athens teens are no different than you and I,” regardless of economic status.

Poverty has a well-known presence here in Athens, Ga. 13.4% of all families in Athens live below the poverty level, according to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau,

But poverty does not define the teens of Athens—the school system refuses to let it.

“Our district believes that each student can succeed at his/her highest level. Teachers, counselors, social workers, administrators, graduation coaches and others establish relationships with students so they know supports are in place to help them succeed,” said Anisa Jimenez, Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Clarke County School System.

Poverty is easily looked at as just a number. It is easy to wonder who the ‘families’ are, but most people look no further and continue to go about their business. In most cases, those on the other end of the spectrum do not even think about those in need.

“We often forget that Athens, home of UGA and famous musicians, faces a huge gap between those who are financially stable and those who are not,” said David Ragsdale, a teacher at Clarke Central High School.

Inside each of those unnamed families in many cases is a teenager trying to get through the Clarke County School System as best they can.

“All families and teens struggle with themes common across all age groups no matter the economic status, “said Robin Weinrich, work-based learning coordinator for Clarke County.

The opinion that students are not statistics is spread over the Athens-Clarke County School System.

“Ultimately, kids from across the economic spectrum want to do well in school and want to be considered as individuals and not statistics,” said Ragsdale. “Sensitivity to this condition, not pity or condescension, is critical in helping our students find the means to battle poverty.”

Still, teenagers in poverty face different situations at home that can sometimes affect their schooling.

“Some students have increased responsibilities at home when faced with an economic crunch,” said Ragsdale. “These may include babysitting younger siblings or being a primary care-giver to an ill parent, as hospital or hospice care may not be available.”

“How would these responsibilities may a child behave differently?”

Ragsdale answered as an imagined Athens teen in poverty: “I’ve been babysitting my younger brothers all night, I may not have time to finish my homework, which leaves me unprepared for class and potentially a little edgy when I get to class because I know I’m not ready.”

The external circumstances of students can be hindering, but Ragsdale offered a solution: “Reaching out to kids on a personal level and engaging them on an individual basis certainly helps bridge the gap.”

Bridging the gap and addressing the individual needs of students is Clarke County School System’s goal.

Pairing poverty’s limitations with the idea that “kids just want to be kids,” the Clarke County School System delivers programs that work toward meeting the needs of teens at risk.

Each program is designed to foster parent and student engagement no matter the economic status, however, teens at risk can benefit.

Weinrich works with “Ombudsman Educational Services,” which provide accelerated academic programming for students who are referred based on behavior or academic recovery.

Students choose to attend the program, once referred, and as part of their academic package, “we include a work-based component that teaches them basic employability skills for any work site. Once they demonstrate these skills during their academic work, they are then placed into actual work sites.”

“This allows the student to experience connections between their academics and what is happening daily in the adult world of work,” said Weinrich. “My goal with this program is to show them [students] there are ways to rise above poverty with their education and making job choices that appeal to them.”

There are also organizations and programs outside the Clarke County School System designed to help families in need in Athens. For instance, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia provides a “Food 2 Kids” program for several counties across Northeast Georgia, including Clarke County.

“The Food 2 Kids program is committed to eliminating child hunger in America. We provide children identified as being chronically hungry with nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals during times outside school, such as summer holidays and weekends,” said Tanya Pass, the Athens Food 2 Kids program coordinator.

The program provides child-friendly foods that do not require an oven, such as ravioli, cereal, juice, milk, chicken noodle soup, peanut butter, bread, and fresh produce.

Another organization, One Athens, is a group with a community initiative created to eliminate persistent poverty by creating jobs and building community.

Although each of these programs exist, poverty is still not eliminated. It will not be just one program or a few caring people that will defeat the problem.

“I don’t have the answers, but instead of getting bogged down by the big scale of the problem, if we each contribute in ways we are able in our own circles—we will make changes that affect lives,” said Weinrich.

Reaching out to students living in poverty situations will make a potential difference in an individual student’s life—Weinrich and Ragsdale have both seen it. What may seem a “small scale” way to face the problem makes all the difference.