David Steagall: Poverty is not the issue
Published 12:03 am Thursday, October 1, 2015
- Students at Dhakuria School, in Kolkata, India, gather for voluntary Bible class in February 2014. Submitted photo
By Dr. David Steagall
Special to the Salisbury Post
Through In Focus Ministries Inc., I have had the privilege of participating in mission activity in India for a number of years. My purpose was to reach as many people for Christ as possible.
One of the methods used was to provide financial assistance to schools established to provide schooling to those who could not even afford public school. Fortunately, these schools were able to obtain and use the same curriculum and books as the public schools.
Swriti, the principal for many years at Dhakuria School, has told me that most of her students pass the required exams qualifying them to continue their education beyond the fifth grade.
Based on my observations and personal experiences, poverty is not the cause of failure as has been repeatedly stated many times in the Post. In fact, failure is often the cause of poverty.
A friend who taught school successfully for over 40 years suggested four reasons for poor and/or failing school results:
1. Lack of values
2. Lack of respect of authority.
3. Lack of a work ethic.
4. Lack of family values and lack of family support.
She suggested that these qualities were demonstrated in the backgrounds from which under-achievers come.
In India, there is no welfare. If you are physically able, you have to work or starve. Even in the poorest homes, there is almost always a mother and a father who care about their children. These parents want their children to get an education so that they can better themselves, because they are aware of the severe consequences of failure.
Here in America, the consequences of failure and/or wrong choices are not so severe. Possibly, the consequences of failure by the students’ parents and the students should become more severe. Then parents would encourage their children to be more successful in school.
Dr. David J. Steagall of Rowan County is president of In Focus Ministries, which holds a prayer meeting for revival at First Baptist Church, Salisbury, at noon every Thursday in Room 117 at the church.