Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
Poverty is a serious problem, even in one of the richest industrialized nations in the world. In Iowa, too, many Iowans face poverty every day. Teachers daily cross paths with children who are poor.

In Louisa County, Iowa, the superintendent of the Columbus School District was quoted as saying that this district is one of the poorest school districts in the state, as identified by the number of students who need free and reduced meal services. It also has a high percentage of minority students. To give teachers and other staff an idea of what life is like for lower-income students, and to spark discussion on how to better serve these students, the school district sought assistance from Iowa State University Extension.

Response:
ISU Extension conducted a Poverty Simulation in January, 2009, for teachers and school staff. The Simulation is an educational workshop which provides participants an opportunity to "walk a mile in the shoes" of someone living in poverty. In the simulation, participants assume the roles of families living in poverty. At the same time, low income individuals, ISU Extension staff, and community agency staff play the role of ‘staffer’ positions of authority in a community that participants deal with to solve problems of poverty.

Two weeks prior to this Simulation, Extension staff helped present statistics about the ‘state of poverty’ in the school district, in Louisa County, and in Iowa. In addition, school staff were given information about community services in the county available to families. Following the Simulation workshop and debriefing, ISU Extension arranged for two guests (one Anglo, one Hispanic) to speak to teachers about how poverty has touched their lives and ways the school can be understanding and helpful to their students and families. Also, ISU sociology students, who work on a Latino project, helped simulation participants sort through their feelings about poverty and culture.

Impact:
“Teachers Learn Desperation of Poverty” was the headline of the article written in the Burlington, Iowa daily newspaper, the Hawk Eye, by a reporter attending the Poverty Simulation workshop at the Columbus Junction School. “Frustration. Anger. Anxiety. Desperation." For just one hour, 90 teachers and staff members with the Columbus School District experienced a gamut of emotions as they attempted to find jobs, apply for food stamps, and get their children to school on time. The jobs, food stamps, and school were imaginary. But the empathy the staff felt during a poverty simulation hosted by Iowa State University Extension was real.” These words of the reporter, gleaned from his interviews and observations of the participants, described for readers what the school staff experienced.

Written reactions of participants: “I felt like nobody cared about us. Do you think this is how our students feel?” “I thought there was no way my family would be able to survive and stay together.” “I thought I have no “lifeline” – no hope – I thought to survive I was going to have to forego my integrity.” “I am glad this is a simulation for me. I can’t imagine living like this for real.” What is happening as a result of the ISU Extension’s assistance?

The middle school principal, in his verbal report to the Columbus School Board about the Simulation, said: “…after the poverty simulation and a conversation with a former student who now has a child in middle school, I have decided that there needs to be more outreach to families from the middle school… We will have an open forum in the late evening once per month for parents to come, have refreshments, see what’s going on in the school, talk to teachers, etc.” At the first meeting in February, 30 parents attended and similar attendance was experienced in March and expected in April. He also said that he has communicated with the teachers an expectation that they communicate regularly with families on their students’ successes and challenges. Surely, the Simulation and related activities have helped sensitize school staff to the needs of their students.

Additional ISUE Extension Staff:
Mary Crooks, Family Life Field Specialist
319-523-2371
mcrooks@iastate.edu

Kathy Vance, Louisa County Extension Education Director
319-523-2371
vancek@iastate.edu

Additional Team Members or Community Partners:
Barbara Anderson, NH FS Dori Gipple, Youth FS Brenda Spurgeon, Youth FS Also other community agencies such as Community Action assisted. (If you need a more complete list, please advise.)

Contact:
Patricia Steiner
Des Moines County Extension
900 Osborn Street
Burlington, Iowa 52601
319-754-7556
psteiner@iastate.edu