Examining Poverty in China

More than one in five people live in extreme poverty globally, according to a new report, though China's continued economic growth has improved the lives of millions. The poverty rate in the world's most populous country fell by nearly three-quarters in the last six years, from 26% in 2007 to 7% by 2012, the report by Gallup, a U.S.-based research company, said. Such a trend is attributed to the economic reforms within the country in the last couple of decades. One particular aspect of this socio-economic success has been the rapid industrialization of the country, with a major pivot of people moving from the poorer rural areas of the country to more well off jobs in urban centers, particularly within the manufacturing sector. Improved education and healthcare have also played a role in helping many out of poverty in China. *Growth factor But China's remarkable economic growth, which has rebounded to 7.8% this quarter, up from the previous quarter's growth of 7.5% has been crucial -- though forecasts by the International Monetary Fund estimate growth will slow down in 2014, falling to 7.25%. These substantial strides by China meant overall poverty across the globe was halved from 40% to 20% within two decades, according to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. Gallup interviews more than 2,000 people per year within China to obtain its results. Many remain in poverty Despite China's improvements, the data found that many across the globe still live in extreme poverty, which Gallup classifies as those living on US$ 1.25 a day or less. Sub-Saharan Africa was found to have the highest levels of poverty, with the majority of the population in the region -- 54% -- living under extreme poverty. The statistics in Liberia and Burundi are even more dire, with 90% of the population classed in this category. At the other end of the spectrum, the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand all had the most positive results, with 1% or less of the overall population in these regions living in conditions of extreme poverty. The World Bank is aiming to cut the extreme poverty rate to 3% globally by 2030. This ambitious aim means that many countries in Africa and Asia would need to slash their "extreme poverty rates" by over half.

Web Resources Early Childhood

A list of Early Childhood Education Websites http://www.naeyc.org/ http://acei.org/ http://www.earlychildhood.org/ http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/ect.htm https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc The Effects of Childhood poverty and education According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, in the United States, 21 percent of children live in families with incomes below the federal poverty line. Although many of these families have working parents, low wages and unstable employment make it difficult to provide the necessary resources for proper childhood development. Not only does research indicate that poverty is a threat to a child's well-being, but it also affects his ability to learn. 1. Absenteeism Regular attendance at school is important for educational success. Absenteeism has a negative affect on academic achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge. The NCCP has found that among poor children, chronic absenteeism in kindergarten predicts low achievement levels at the end of the fifth grade. Poor families' lack of resources such as transportation, food, and clothing may prevent children from attending school regularly. Illness is another significant factor to consider with regard to absenteeism since 20 percent of low-income infants and toddlers do not have updated immunizations, which may be required for school admittance. Emotional Impact Poverty's affects on the emotional development of children has a negative impact on education. According to the Connecticut General Assembly, research shows that children from poor families experience emotional problems more often than non-poor children. As explained on teach-nology.com, emotions are connected to memory, which affect the capacity of children to grasp ideas, think and learn. This lack of emotional development interferes with language development, further preventing the development of higher-order thinking skills that assist with independent problem solvin Children living in poverty may be fearful, which can be converted to aggression, irritability, and apathy, all of which have a negative affect on learning. Low Academic Performance Poor cognitive development affects academic performance. Children who live below the poverty line are 1.3 times more likely to have developmental delays or learning disabilities compared to non-poor children. Research indicates that nutrition impacts children's cognitive ability and that poor nutrition retards physical growth, brain development, and cognitive function. Chronic stress from lack of nutrition and a poor environment inhibit the growth of dendrites and limit interconnections among neurons. Poor children who attend school hungry perform more poorly on standardized tests compared to non-hungry children. Poverty also increases the risk for lead poisoning, which lowers IQ and causes speech and hearing problems. School Unreadiness A significant effect of child poverty on education is school unreadiness; the CGA states that 40 percent of American children are not prepared for primary schooling. School unreadiness is seen in low-income children, who enter kindergarten lagging behind their peers and by fourth grade do not meet reading proficiency standards. Children in poverty may not be ready for school because they miss out on things that help with the development of academic skills, such as computers, visits to zoos and museums, preschool programs, and having access to literature and educational reading materials. References http://www.ehow.com/info_7955115_effects-childhood-poverty-education.html

Issues and Trends - Reaching Out

After reading the assignment, I went to the website and tried to make connections with two Early Child Professional with no success. This attempt was done by email. After no response I decided to complete the alternate assignment. I went on the website gobalfundforchildren. I enjoyed reading about the school girls performing poetry. I am a lover of poetry and I believe like music, it connects people from different cultures. Poetry soothes the soul and allows people to express their feelings. This website is a great resource in Early Childhood because a lot of great information is posted. When learning about Early Childhood, it is important to connect with different people because we can be each others' resources and learn some different ways to educate children. One tip that I have learned that you can learn from everyone.