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Tennesse ranks eighth amongst U.S. states with children living in poverty
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. --
New U.S. Census data shows childhood poverty is a growing problem across Tennessee.
According to the 2010 census 24 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 17 were living in poverty in the Volunteer State. That ranks Tennessee number eight among the 10 states with the highest rates of school-age poverty.
How are schools in our area coping with the increase?
Second grade teacher Debbie Weaver is used to helping her kids, but in her 25 years of teaching at Cherokee Elementary she's never seen as much need as she is today.
Were seeing the real need in the kids and you just don't let it go unmet, said Weaver.
Weaver and her peers are using their own money to buy an increasing amount of supplies for their students.
When we find things on sale we buy them because we know there is going to be a need, said Weaver. We have children that if they need shoes, we buy them shoes.
Johnson City schools are also serving more free food to students. Between 2009 and 2011 the number of free breakfasts served went up 12 percent.
Children that are well nourished are more attentive, they have less disruption problems, less illnesses, said Karen McGahey, food service director for Johnson City schools
In addition to physical needs, Cherokee is also providing more emotional assistance to students living in poverty.
Students that are homeless, students that are in transition living with relatives, their parents have gone through a tough time and it, of course, effects the whole family, said Mary Nell McIntyre, principal at Cherokee Elementary
Still, despite all the extra help principal McIntyre says increases in the number of children living in poverty are a real concern.
video read more Tennesse ranks eighth amongst U.S. states with children living in proverty | TriCities.com
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. --
New U.S. Census data shows childhood poverty is a growing problem across Tennessee.
According to the 2010 census 24 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 17 were living in poverty in the Volunteer State. That ranks Tennessee number eight among the 10 states with the highest rates of school-age poverty.
How are schools in our area coping with the increase?
Second grade teacher Debbie Weaver is used to helping her kids, but in her 25 years of teaching at Cherokee Elementary she's never seen as much need as she is today.
Were seeing the real need in the kids and you just don't let it go unmet, said Weaver.
Weaver and her peers are using their own money to buy an increasing amount of supplies for their students.
When we find things on sale we buy them because we know there is going to be a need, said Weaver. We have children that if they need shoes, we buy them shoes.
Johnson City schools are also serving more free food to students. Between 2009 and 2011 the number of free breakfasts served went up 12 percent.
Children that are well nourished are more attentive, they have less disruption problems, less illnesses, said Karen McGahey, food service director for Johnson City schools
In addition to physical needs, Cherokee is also providing more emotional assistance to students living in poverty.
Students that are homeless, students that are in transition living with relatives, their parents have gone through a tough time and it, of course, effects the whole family, said Mary Nell McIntyre, principal at Cherokee Elementary
Still, despite all the extra help principal McIntyre says increases in the number of children living in poverty are a real concern.
video read more Tennesse ranks eighth amongst U.S. states with children living in proverty | TriCities.com
