Is poverty destiny? Ideology vs. evidence in school reform

[HiPointDem]

2. I think one of the reasons is that within living memory americans (my grandparents and parents'

generation) made the transition from farm to office.

When I was a kid there were still people I knew of living without running water and electricy, outdoor toilets, etc., raising a lot of their own food largely outside the market economy.

The WW2 generation, a significant percent, went from those conditions or somewhat better into factories & offices, & sent their kids to college to see them enter the professions. That seemed like a huge improvement, partly due to their own hard work, scrimping, etc, & that memory of 'rising' is still cherished in a lot of families -- even though it had more to do with an overall societal/economic transformation than any individual's hard work.

It sure is a ruling myth in my family & the families of their friends, anyway. It had a huge impact on me & my siblings (somewhat pernicious, I'd say). But less so in the next generation down from mine & on, who never experienced farm life.