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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Opinion: Plano students sip Starbucks, learn “empathy” during poverty simulation
Why didn't they volunteer at a pantry? Or, even just talk to neighbors in need?
PLANO — The Plano ISD Council of PTAs recently hosted its second poverty simulation in which participants played poor people for a few hours and were allowed to steal items because, you know, that’s what poor people do. It is the second such simulation this month. At each event, participants were assigned different roles from drop outs to single moms to ex-cons and were asked to cope with their life situations including loss of transportation money. The three hour simulation, according to the Plano Courier, forced participants “to go to different aid agencies, shop for groceries, take care of their children and go to work” as part of a simulated month of poverty. Sounds like a messed up version of The Game of Life to me.
Cheryl Jackson of Minnie’s Food Pantry, a Plano-based charity, told WFAA (Channel 8) allowing people to steal as part of a poverty simulation isn’t effective. “The people who are in this line are mothers and fathers who are working two and three jobs, trying to make ends meet,” Jackson told WFAA. “They’re not the thieves out there. That’s not the concept… these are real people.” I wonder why the Plano PTA members didn’t just volunteer at the pantry? Or simply walk outside and talk with their neighbors in need? Serve with Meals on Wheels? That’s real empathy, folks.
The poverty simulation, according to Plano organizers, was meant to help Plano parents and students understand the needs of those in a diversifying district where more and more families and residents are going without: 28% of students in Plano ISD receive free or reduced lunches. But how do you simulate poverty in an environment where participants sipped Starbucks coffee while they played poor people and were allowed to steal? Organizers said that stealing does happen in real life. Um, rich people steal in desperate (and greedy) situations as well, not just the poor. And many of those in desperate situations are equally willing to give back, to barter, to take on three jobs to make ends meet.
I have participated in a poverty simulation. At Baylor, as part of my study program, I was required to do service work. For three days, I, and dozens of other students, wore donated clothing items, volunteered at local housing projects and slept outside. We also had to earn money to eat. This was done by either working (we had to ask people to let us work) or primarily by begging. Days later, funky, tired, sick of walking, I was a changed woman.
I doubt the Starbucks-sipping "poor" actors in Plano can say the same.
Click on this link to donate to Minnie’s.
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Oodarkroom8427, anonymous:
Agreed, Plano's simulation seems lame.
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76rew, anonymous:
Allowing students to STEAL while simulating poor people ?
- This is simply unbelievable !! Pls tell me that this entire article is a misprint
Are we communicating to our kids, that poor people are crooks?
Please.. please.. I want my PISD taxes back !
P.S.: when I look around.. it seems to me that the major "stealers" in our society are quite often standing at the top of the economic scale.
... Shame,... shame PISD
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Jason Rice, verified:
76 - then what is YOUR solution.
"Ok, the sim is 'I have to provide XYZ, I have enough for X, I can get assistance for Y,' now what?'" They should be taught that "it just takes care of itself" ??? You baffle me.
Please, oh great and powerful anonymous condescender, you and the above bigoted hack journalist that lives to take potshots at Plano from her smug hipster-hollow that actually "lived as poor" with a handful of other private school students (oh, the trauma - not knowing how bad the next three days could be - shudder)
How about option #2? Go actually find out WHAT happens and offer to help the next project. "Do it
more leftright." Get off your high horse and get on the ground.And ping me if you don't know where Cheryl's food pantry is. It's conveniently located in center of Plano and she could definitely use help this time of year. (And she's less crazy sounding when not taken out of context like this.)
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76rew, anonymous:
To Jason Rice
I sense that you have not either read the article or my posting. My ONLY concern is the "permission to steal" used in the simulation.
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Egorsti, anonymous:
Very Plano.
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Jason Rice, verified:
76,
I sense you didn't read my response: Do you have any idea what the actual simulation was? The conjecture across the board has been that there was an implicit "permission to steal." That is the entire basis of all this Plano-bashing. Its entirety.
Believe it or not, some people (likely my neighbors) don't see theft as a victimless crime. As amazing as it might sound, theft carries a bit of a stigma... neanderthal, I know, but that is their way. To present that option as anything short of a foregone conclusion may seem alien, but gosh, that would be the horrible reality that we hope our kids don't personally have to face but would expect punishment as retribution. Crazy, I know, but we think it should be avoided.
I myself do not really know the construct of these exercises, but I bet I could know them pretty darned well in the next 48 hours. I'll wager even poor Cheryl Jackson got blindsided by the questions (unless she started the whole kerfuffle with WFAA - she is an activist after all, of which every neighborhood should have one).
I'll find out of this "Permission To Steal" silliness is you guys wishful thinking fabrication to tar a favorite suburban scapegoat, or if indeed it was presented just as shallowly and incompetently as you'd love to believe... and report back.
Plano's demographic is shifting and across the city we are actively working to respond to it. Whether it is a significantly growing aging population or significant needs in our schoolkids. To do NOTHING would be a sin. Seems like to do something is seen in even poorer light by our uninvolved neighbors.
Have a nice day and try not to steal anything.
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Jason Rice, verified:
Aaaaand.... yes indeedy, I found the exact people to talk to. I will flat out defy anyone to find serious fault with this program or these people....
Exhibit A: http://planopta.org/wp-content/upload...
Exhibit B: http://www.endpov.com/host_an_event
This same workshop and curriculum have been used hundreds of time across the US, based in Missouri, and generates ream after ream of community support missives... but not here in Dallas....Whoa no. 'Cause a suburb did it.
You yoyos are so hot to make Plano look vapid and irrelevant... well, this event was run by some amazing teachers from our ISD who have taken part in previous workshops of the same series. I spent some quality time chatting with some of them about it. How DARE you smear them.
Here's a less divisive take on the event. http://www.planostar.com/articles/201...
By someone that actually likes writing about Plano (and seems to get paid for it).
I recommend checking out the PlanoPTA https://www.facebook.com/PlanoPTA
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cbsteg5, anonymous:
Shame on you Joanna! People living with a limited income are not crooks! Your view of that exercise is distorted. The poverty simulation that was done is an educational exercise that allows the participants to step into the shoes for just 2 hours and simulate a family living with a limited income. While folks came in with their coffee's, they may feel differently before indulging in expensive coffees after the poverty simulation experience.
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What do you think?