Journal Entry 2 Observation of Professionals, Children, and Families

               During the two-week period for this journal entry, I observed multiple professionals working with young children in a Head Start classroom at Traverse Heights Elementary School.  Besides the classroom teacher, Kathleen, I also observed as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and school counselors served children.  Each of these people plays an important role in the daily operation of the class and directly influences the success of the children they serve.  While each of these people effectively worked with children, one person stood out as an important liaison for children in poverty, the family service worker.

                I witnessed Misty working with children and I saw her interacting with the children’s parents.  This impressed me because it relates to my research paper topic and how people in poverty get the resources they need to survive.  I understand that survive is a strong word, but that is what families in poverty are doing.  The family service worker links families in poverty to community organizations that can help them as they try to improve their living situations.  For example, on Tuesday I saw Misty give a parent a gas card so she could take her four-year-old daughter to and from school for the week.  This definitely set the mom’s mind at ease.

                This clearly shows the struggle of families in poverty.  What would that mother do to get the money for gas if Misty was not there?  Would her daughter make it to school?  This is a reality for people in poverty and Misty told me that she is not concerned about what would happen, she is concerned with what does happen.  As the link between home and school, Misty works tirelessly to help parents problem solve so their children make it to the classroom each day. 

                I accept that some people will say that the girl’s mom should simply get a job.  But the reality of the situation is that she has a job, in fact she has two jobs, and she is still struggling to get by because her wages are abysmal.  Misty stated that she finds that most of the parents she works with are hard workers who just do not make enough for rent, food, clothing, and utilities.  Most are poorly educated and come from generations of poverty.  I’m with Misty, I do not care about the woman getting a $10 gas card, I care about getting her child to school and allowing her to experience a childhood with a proper education like those who are not in poverty.