A professor pointed out that school often times revolves around holidays, especially in elementary school. For almost every month there is a holiday the class revolves around. Worksheets and activities are correlated with the holiday. By doing so, school serves as a way to socialize students into understanding how American life works. There is always something to look forward to each month. It also serves as a way to present and reinforce gender norms, stereotypes, and ideal ways of life.

This reminds me of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Physiological and safety needs need to be met in order for a person to focus on other things. These needs are what low-income students struggle with most often. If they are constantly worried about them, it is not a surprise that their academic achievement is lower than more affluent students. When these basic needs aren't met, students can translate them into attitude problems. Teachers and school staff can sometimes think they are personal, but in reality it has nothing to do with them. One should try to be as understanding as possible and really listen to the complaints of low-income students because they can reveal why they are unable to focus or do well in school.

Low-income neighborhoods of color are mostly likely to be the victims of environmental racism. They contain the most waste dumping sites, toxic facilities, and have the lowest air quality. Companies sometimes economically blackmail low-income residents with money or job opportunities because they know residents are in need of them. The negative health consequences leave lasting effects for everyone living in these neighborhoods, especially young children and adolescents. This is just another issue to the long list that low-income students face.