Cycles
of Poverty and Success
Poverty,
education, and community are all part of a cyclical pattern. Poverty
is amplified from a lack of
education, and the impoverished typically live in communities with a low
standard of expectations. Because of
wide spread academic neglect, these expectations are put on each generation as
time moves on. For example, if someone is impoverished because of a bad
education, then they won’t have enough money to send their kids to a good
school. Living in a community where no
one is well educated, there are no role models to follow, and the pattern
continues.
In
“The Other Wes Moore” by Wes Moore, these ideas are supported by each Wes’ life. Both the narrator and the “other Wes Moore”
led similar lives in their early childhood. Both grew up in similar
circumstances, in the same neighborhoods, in fatherless homes, and of course,
in a world greatly influenced by drugs.
However, the narrator was only a spectator of the “drug game”. The “other Wes Moore” was a player in this
“game”. (Moore 73)
The
cyclical pattern of poverty was continued in this way by the “other Wes Moore”,
but it was broken by the narrator. The
narrator’s mother played a large part in this.
She sent him to military school which broke the poverty cycle in two
ways. First, this gave him a very good
education, second it got him away from a community of drugs and peers with
little respect for their own schooling.
The “other Wes Moore” wasn’t so fortunate. He chose to make his money from illegal
activities and to drop out of high school.
(Moore
89)
In
McClennan County there are many opportunities
similar to the narrator’s. Rapoport Academy , for example, is a great
combination of a hard working community, excellent education, and little
cost. District superintendent Dr. Nancy
Grayson said, “We all have a shared vision, everyone wants to work together for
the sense of community,” in an interview with Focus Magazine of Baylor
University. These key characteristics are the same as the narrator’s military
school with two exceptions, at Rapoport
Academy there is no cost
to attend. Also, places like Rapoport Academy provide a positive community
only during school hours; whereas the narrator’s military school provided it
twenty four hours a day. Attitudes in
one’s community can subtly influence one’s attitude towards education. It is for this reason that one’s home life
must be supportive and positive. Even
with an excellent school, the absence of a role model can cripple one’s ability
to appreciate the value of a good education.
Additionally a positive support group made of close friends and family
is important in deciding one’s future.
This is also shown throughout the story of the Wes Moores. On one hand, the narrator’s mother and
sisters were very supportive and pushed Wes to do well even when he didn’t want
to. On the other hand, the “other Wes
Moore’s” mom smoked weed and his brother sold drugs. (Moore 73)
Quality educations and supportive communities
are helping people move out of poverty in McClennan County . This is embodied by a sign at Rapoport Academy which says, “If you think
education is expensive, try ignorance!”
Just as a poor education and negative community cultivate a cyclical
pattern of poverty, a good education and positive community cultivate a
cyclical pattern of success.
2 comments:
Well done, David.
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