Ruby Payne is the author of among other things A Framework for Understanding Poverty. Paul Tough in the June 10, 2007, issue of The New York Times Magazine writes, “In the nation’s classrooms, middle-class teachers increasingly encounter poor students, often with disastrous results. Ruby Payne says she has the secrets to help them cross the great divide.” The article profiles her work as well as some of its criticisms.
Having been trained as a facilitator in Bridges Out of Poverty, and Getting Ahead in a Just gettin by World, I have found value in Payne's frameworks and having a vocabulary to draw from that assists in explaining some of the realities of the class divide. I have experienced a whole room full of folks understanding the impacts and experiences of generational systemic poverty as well as generational middle class and generational wealth in new ways and using those newfound understandings to inform and improve their particular interactions with people. I have found that if and when carefully presented, the concepts resonate with many people's backgrounds and experiences. Having tried to implement "Getting Ahead" in an urban neighborhood, though, I did struggle with addressing the role of race and ethnicity as it relates to systemic poverty. (Tho---I'm not convinced that wasn't just my own discomfort and inexperience.... )
In response, perhaps, or just because, aha! process, inc. has published its Platform for Economic Justice. It's an interesting discussion of issues and items of the day from the aha! perspective, which, in some ways again seems to side step issues of race and ethnicity. It is at least a jumping off point for additional and ongoing conversation about poverty, class (and dare i say... race and ethnicity?).
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Wow! Now that's some powerful writing! Welcome back! ;)
In my recent exposures to the educational dilemma known locally as TPS I am becoming quite a believer in Dr. Payne's theory.
Perhaps if people would refer to others as people instead of black, white, asian, etc. then we would be miles ahead. Instead we remain in the same old rut, using the same old labels, fearful of the same old group of unknowns and resistant to anything we don't understand or that appears to be that which would require us to devote our precious time to it. After all, 'we' might have a hair appointment, or our nails need done, or the dog needs a bath...
Any excuse to escape social responsibility is better than none.
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