Living conditions can cause children from culturally different backgrounds to experience academic difficulties and to

Question

be referred to special education. Discuss two major contributors to the development of a child's learning problem.

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

ANSWER: It is important to note that the study of culture and associated variables, such as poverty
and migrancy, is complicated when one attempts to identify simple causal relationships
(e.g., depression occurs more frequently in people of certain ethnic backgrounds, which
may be due to poverty, not culture). In many cases the study of race and culture
involves complex and interacting variables that defy certain simple causative
conclusions. As children develop during the important early years, living in an
impoverished environment places them further at risk due to factors such as
malnutrition, the presence of toxic agents (e.g., lead), and generally insufficient parental
care. The conditions of poverty often contribute to poor academic performance, place
children in at-risk situations, and generate special education referrals. For example, there
is less access to adequate health care and particularly prenatal care, among cultural
minorities, which can present at-risk circumstances. Conditions of poverty are found
more often in populations having multicultural education needs and are associated with
homelessness and academic risk.
Migrancy presents a serious difficulty in that it interrupts the continuity of schooling and
has an impact on learning, teacher and peer relationships, and general academic
progress. Children from migrant families have limited continuity and considerable
inconsistency in educational programming. They often have limited access to services
due to their short-term enrollments or the school's limited capabilities to deliver services.