Poverty and Teenagers

I think that it is very unfortunate that a child's financial situation forces him or her to lag behing in education. They do not recieve the same opportunities as everyone else to open up their minds to new ways of thinking, analyzing, and exploring the worlds of literature, math, science, languages, etc. I believe that Paulo Freire will approve of the various programs and opportunities that are beginning to sprout in order to provide poor teens with the chance to have an equal education as those of the middle and upper classes. These programs include "Sure Start Children Centres, extended schools, one to one tuition and personalistion." Coming from poverty, Paulo would like to see this kind of effort to help those who are in the same position as he was. Even though "The campaign wants the government to invest £4bn to halve child poverty by 2010," I think that Freiere will still see this as having some flaws and aspects of the banking concept of education. For example, it is not likely that the government would just give away such large sums of money without the slightest intention of getting something in return. What I mean by this is the following: By contributing a large amount of money to helping the poor, the government will probably use them as "the empty vessels" and fill them with the type of education that will be beneficial, in the end, to the government. This could lead to the oppression of the poor students. I am concerned about this because I came to this country with my family, having virtually nothing besides some clothes and a few personal belongings. I was lucky enough to be given a good education and the opportunity to attend Emmanuel College now and pursue a higher education. However, this might not be the case for every immigrant who comes here with nothing, and even for those who were born in the United States to impoverished conditions.