Poverty is not responsible

Sir, – In your article, “Poverty to Blame for Crisis in Classrooms” (Courier, May 18), teacher Kevin Campbell claims that “deprivation” and “the intolerable burden of poverty” are the main reasons for the poor behaviour of many school pupils.

He claims that this in turn is causing severe problems in both the recruitment and retention of teachers.

However, I would beg to differ.

I am sure all of your readers have seen images of spotlessly presented African children sitting – all facing the front – in classrooms which here would barely pass muster as barns.

Each one appears keen to be there, the teacher has their undivided attention and they are ever eager to be called upon to answer a question.

They may have no shoes and have walked miles to be there.

Some will perhaps have been up for several hours helping with family chores before school.

Yet each child seems to appreciate the precious gift they are being given by having the opportunity of gaining an education which will enable them to find a decent job and earn a good living.

Poverty is, in these cases, not a hindrance to education or a cause of bad behaviour but rather a driving-force as it offers the only opportunity these children have to help themselves and their families out of their deprived circumstances.

Similar scenes of eagerness to learn are to be found in many other countries, particularly those in Asia.

Also, in this country, a few generations ago, when there was genuine poverty and no state help, the situation was the same.

The teacher had the full attention of the class (or if he/she didn’t there would be unpleasant consequences) and education was prized by pupils and their parents as the way out of the poor conditions in which they found themselves.

Poverty therefore, cannot be the reason for poor behaviour in classrooms. Indeed, what counts as poverty here would in most parts of the world be considered a fairly high standard of living.

So there must be some other cause of the “crisis in classrooms” described in your article.

I have my own ideas. It would be interesting to know what other readers think.

Angela Rennie. 88 Muirfield Crescent, Dundee.