Superintendent's Long List of Students' Economic Stresses Brought From Home

Dr. Jaime Reilly, superintendent of the two-school , prompted a close look at an under-reported domino-effect of the bad economy when she recently told Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) that .

Several Patch stories subsequently reported of widespread instances of hunger, stress and even homelessness in students in a number of nearby suburban school districts. Administrators in both high school and elementary school provided copious examples of the economy’s impact on children after Durbin visited – where he met Reilly – to promote the American Jobs Act.

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“Students are left on their own more, due to parents working more (or not at all), and they need to have the tools to cope with every day situations..."

In the wake of these reports from surrounding schools, Reilly agreed to supply Patch with instances of student stress from District 67 that she did not have time to cite to Durbin – and how she and her staff are coping with the problems. Reilly’s first list is the student problems with which the staffs at Golf Middle School and are dealing:

• A dramatic increase in students eligible for the free and reduced lunch program.
• An increase in the number of students coming to school without eating breakfast.
• An increase in transience, resulting in gaps in student learning.
• An increase in numbers of homeless students.
• An increase in the number of families doubling up, or multiple families living in one house or apartment.
• An increasing incidence of young children left unattended, either after school or getting themselves ready for school in the morning, due to both parents working, or single parents working multiple jobs.
• Chronic and pervasive multiple stress factors within the family contribute to an increase in substance abuse, mental health issues, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence, all of which have a tremendous negative impact on students' abilities to function within the educational environment.
• An increase in stress-related health and mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, in students which negatively affects their functioning in school.

Due to the above issues and others, she also mentioned how families' ability to effectively cope with problems that arise is negatively impacted. Families' capacity to access outside supports, services and resources has been significantly diminished as well, placing more demands on the school to provide such support.

How can kids learn under stressful conditions?

Reilly was asked how can students learn when their basic needs, food, clothing, shelter and medical attention are not being met. She gave a comprehensive list of long- and short-term actions by the schools.

The measures included reinstatement of the guidance counselor position cut during the 2010-11 school year; implementation of the CHAMPS program, a positive approach to classroom management to address the increase in social, emotional and behavioral issues, and increased number of referrals to community agencies, including referrals for basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter.

Short-term help for needy students included the purchase of winter coats and boots, providing morning snacks for those who have not eaten breakfast, increased number of waivers for student fees and decreased number of field trips to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for all families. District 67 has started various fundraising activities, such as can drives, by both staff and school parents, designed to help families. 

Helping with absence of Internet access

Reilly said financially-crimped students might have limited access to computer technology to complete school projects requiring internet access at home.

“We try to assist them at school to have the necessary technology to complete their projects, using our resources, during lunch, recess, before, or after school,” she said.

School employees also must deal with a decrease in student’s coping skills in handling both social and emotional issues at school and home. Reilly added that she is working with teachers to develop class guidance lessons such as bullying, self-esteem, conflict resolution and study skills.

“Students are left on their own more, due to parents working more (or not at all), and they need to have the tools to cope with every day situations, such as the ones previously mentioned," Reilly said. "We are trying to meet with students in small groups and individually as much as possible, if they need support to understand and help to deal with their families' current situations."

Along with the guidance lessons, she said that the problem is being addressed with the help of other programs as well.  

“In addition, we are addressing these issues as an entire school, by implementing initiatives and programs such as "Mix-It-Up", Anti-Bullying Awareness, Rainbows, and small counseling groups on a variety of topics, such as friendship, problem-solving and study skills.”

You can find more articles from this ongoing series, “You can find more articles from this ongoing series, “Dispatches: The Changing American Dream” from across the country at The Huffington Post."