Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance: Poverty, Literacy, and the Development of Information Capital

by Susan B. Neuman, Donna C. Celano

This is a compelling, eye-opening portrait of two communities in Philadelphia with drastically different economic resources. Over the course of their 10-year investigation, the authors of this important new work came to understand that this disparity between affluence and poverty has created a knowledge gap ―far more important than mere achievement scores―with serious implications for students’ economic prosperity and social mobility. At the heart of this knowledge gap is the limited ability of students from poor communities to develop information capital . This moving book takes you into the communities in question to meet the students and their families, and by doing so provides powerful insights into the role that literacy can play in giving low-income students a fighting chance. Important reading for a wide audience of educators, policymakers, school reformers, and community activists, Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance :

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Education, Professional Development

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 24, 2012

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot of new information in this book for me, but really interesting to read about two neighborhoods in Philly that I'm somewhat familiar with. I especially appreciated the facts about the digital/technology divide between poor and affluent neighborhoods and some of the ideas for change. Once again, the main question that arises is how do we figure out a way to create a culture of literacy in low-income neighborhoods in a way that works? How do we provide access to print rich materials and provide training for folks to be able to utilize technology to the fullest? How do we guide families into knowing the importance of talking and reading to their kids from birth on? This book really got me thinking about how we can begin to tackle this issue.

[Marya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is it, folks. This is the short, sweet book that describes and explains children's behavior (specifically reading and computer use) in urban libraries. Sure, Neuman includes an example or two, but these are strictly in the service of illustrating her data. That data alone makes this book a worthwhile read.
Neuman compares two Carnegie libraries in Philadelphia. They may be a mere 20 minute bus ride apart, but one is an affluent "railway suburb" while the other is buried in picture perfect urban blight. While the libraries themselves are mostly equal, Neuman points out how everything outside the library is not. The two sets of children differ in what resources they have access to at home, how much time they have with those resources, and even what kind of pre-literacy environment each neighborhood provides. With such different backgrounds, is it any wonder that the two libraries are used in completely different ways? While the suburban kids have plenty of time to use the computers in their library (and then continue working on their home computers), the urban kids must squeeze in a mere 18 minutes of library computer time before they return to a computer-less home. That makes a real difference in how much time each group has to master using the computer as an information aid. Older adults may assume that children pick up computer skills simply by breathing the same air as one, but practice is still required.

A bigger problem is the lack of scaffolding. Kids might be little sponges, but they still need the guidance of an adult caregiver to learn any kind of literacy-computer or book. Neuman's data clearly shows what happens when this scaffolding is missing.

The ending goes a little further afield of its neighborhood roots, but it doesn't matter. Neuman's focus is on the foundations, and that alone makes the book worthwhile.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance for a class... and ended up loving it! Maybe it helped that I actually had to do a group project on it, so I got to have a lot of discussion on it. The authors did an extended study of two communities, and the literacy opportunities for children in each. These two neighborhoods are along the same thoroughfare in Philadelphia, but separated by a few miles and many thousands of dollars' income. The differences were mind blowing. There was one photograph of a bookcase in a classroom in the lower income neighborhood. It had only half a dozen books on it! My group dubbed it "the saddest picture ever!" Before reading this book, I was slightly aware of my advantageous upbringing. We had tons of books in my house and my parents took me to bookstores and libraries, and my schools all had well-stocked libraries. Upon reading this book, I became aware of my SUPER ADVANTAGEOUS childhood. I had it GOOD. After reading it, I had to call my mom and thank her for all she did to encourage literacy! Not only will Giving Our Children a Fighting Chance open your eyes to the disparities in childrens' access to literature, but the authors also give insight into some actions you can take to help to remedy the situation. I would consider this a "must read" for anyone who works with childrens' literacy. Recommended!

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neuman is amazing

She’s spent her career revealing the significance literacy has on conceptual understanding

The interesting caveat is the power a child SES has on their vocabulary development and access to education and educational material


Neuman advocates for a better world

This is a wonderful read

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like a fleshed-out phd thesis. Neuman compares two libraries in Philly - one in a wealthy neighborhood and one in a working-class/underemployed neighborhood. She and her team of researchers observe different habits and use patterns of the library as well as contrasting adult involvement in childrens' education.

[coriolis]

Read this for a class, so I'm not rating it. It was an easy read, so at least there's that.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technology itself is not the great equalizer in this summary of studies done in Philadelphia libraries just before, during and after Internet access became a fixture. My ideal takeaway actions include: increasing number of logographic signs and the density/quality of print in public spaces in the community, modeling and scaffolding reading/pre-reading behaviors and technology use (and encouraging parents to do the same), encouraging the development of expertise, and generally "unleveling" the playing field to provide greatest support/resources/encouragement/staff time in face of greatest needs.

[Tina Kaple · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I enjoyed the writing style, but I do not like feeling manipulated when reading non-fiction. The authors have excellent suggestions, however, on how to improve the socioeconomic divide. That part alone, at least, should be read by people in my profession.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's a book of research, it's presented in a way that's pretty accessible. Very important subject for anybody interested in urban education or social justice.

[Barbara]

Abandoned this, I don't find the information all that new or insightful.