Poor Health, No Breakfast Widens the Achievement Chasm

by Alex DiBranco · 2010-03-09 12:57:00 UTC
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Nobody enjoys being sick, but ongoing health problems can have a bigger impact on kids than going quickly through a box of Kleenex. A new study, "Healthier Students Are Better Learners," being released today by The Campaign for Educational Equity at Columbia University finds that health problems seriously impact kids' ability to succeed in schools and widens the achievement chasm -- I mean gap -- that leaves urban minority youth at a disadvantage.

My mother always told me that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and science backs her up. (Plus, it's a lot easier to concentrate when your stomach isn't rumbling.) Unfortunately, many low-income families simply can't afford to put breakfast on the table every morning. I once interviewed a women who had overseen food administration in a low-income school district; she said you could tell that many of the students didn't get enough to eat at home because it was impossible to find a crumb on subsidized lunch trays on Monday. Subsidized school breakfasts address this problem and encourage kids to get to school early.

Then there's asthma, which has becoming increasingly common (probably related to the fact that we're polluting and destroying the environment), impacts 8.8% of white children, but 12.8% of African-American and 21.5% of Puerto Rican kids, and is particularly prevalent in big cities. Asthma also contributes to sleep disturbances, trouble concentrating, and missed school days, setting afflicted children back in their ability to learn.

Vision problems are another education related concern -- after all, how can you love learning if squinting at the chalkboard gives you a headache? Twice as many low-income children suffer from vision problems, and are less likely to be able to afford eye tests and proper prescription glasses. Can you see the big E?

The report also addresses teen pregnancy, hyperactivity, aggression, and physical activity. Bottom line: addressing educational inequities requires addressing health inequities. Can I get a medic?

Photo credit: Steven Wilkes

Alex DiBranco is a Change.org Editor who has worked for the Nation, Political Research Associates, and the Center for American Progress. She is now based in New York City.
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