Texas often touts its record of economic growth, low unemployment rates and its success as a magnet for workers, but who's thinking about the kids in tow and how well-fed or educated they are? Many people are surprised to find that about one in five kids in Texas lives in poverty. According to the report, 1.7 million children, or one-fourth of Texas kids, are currently living in poverty, and 1.1 million of the children living in poverty are Latino, 277,000 are black, 241,000 are white, and 31,000 are Asian. The poverty rate for Latino children in Texas is three times the rate for white children, so the racial disparities among kids living in poverty are stark. The report also found racial and ethnic disparities around health and education. 3.8% of black children in Texas face food insecurity, a rate that is nearly twice that of white children and the state also has one of the highest percentages of children without health insurance in the country (11%) and the rate of Latino children who are uninsured is over twice the rate of white children who are uninsured. I think if this problem persists, minority children also face higher barriers than their white peers when it comes to educational achievement.
I think Texas lawmakers should focus on creating pathways out of poverty and promoting equity for all children. According to the report, Texas consistently ranks among the bottom 10 states regarding children's health and well-being. I really concern about that children are in trouble, and I think Texas is going to be in big trouble. They should recognize that it is going to be a really big problem to Texas state. I think children of color are not only the future of Texas, they are the Texas of today. Without them, Texas would face a demographic crisis a shrinking and aging population with few working-age adults to support and replace older adults in the workforce. Closing the educational, health and financial gaps between Texas children of different races and ethnicities will require intentional, proactive community choices and public policies to ensure all Texans can reach their full potential.
Youngin So wrote in their article, "Texas Children" that the Texas government is responsible for closing health and financial gaps between children. While Youngin made a good point that children shouldn't have to worry about where their food is going to come from, and how their parents are going to pay for medication when they get sick, I disagree that the Texas government is responsible for that.
ReplyDeleteWhile the statistics say that 1/5 children are food insecure, most Texas public schools have a food system in place for kids who can't afford lunch. While I empathize with children in poverty, I don't believe that it is worth implementing socialist policies in our nation or state. People talk about Texas’s booming economy, and it’s true we are better of than most states but, this is contingent on the fact that Texas doesn’t spend much money either.
Youngin's article was an interesting read, and you could really feel their passion for the future of Texas's children. I would have liked them to go more in-depth on one issue rather than skim the surface on several. Although they sound similar, writing policy to fix the lack of health care for children, unstable home environments, and the education system are miles apart. I would have also liked to hear their opinion on how Texas can fix this problem. What policies should be passed? What are the implications of those policies? The only way things are going to change is if someone comes up with an innovative idea.
The way I see to fix this problem is through the education system. This won't help the children of today, but it will help the children of tomorrow.