Teacher Views of Poverty Area Children

Abstract

To assses the favorabillty disposition and content of teachers' views of poverty children, 167 teachers were asked to select 50 of 300 words which best describe poverty children. Proportion of poverty children In present teaching assignment was unrelated to favorabillty, but those with many such children showed a more frustrated view. Teachers’ age and teachers' childhood economic background were unrelated to favorabillty or content of view of these children. Teachers rated as most successful with poverty children showed a more favorable disposition and a less frustrated attitude. Negro and Caucasian teachers did not differ in favorabillty, though Negro teachers seemed to think of these children as more active and resistant. The general stereotype of poverty children Is quite negative.