Students Learn Powerful Lessons from Poverty SimulationFor Lakota East sophomore Taylor Tuazon, a recent class exercise was “one of the most stressful things (she’s) ever done, but also one of the most impactful.” An hour-long poverty simulation, facilitated by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, thrusted Taylor and about 65 of her AP U.S. History classmates into different familial roles – the single head-of-household parent, the primary caregiver grandparent, the uncle suffering from a severe illness, or the child with significant financial responsibilities, for example. In family units of three or four, students had but one task: survive. Every 15 minutes represented a week. Families were challenged to do pretty ordinary things like go to work, go to school, find childcare, pay their mortgage, buy groceries, pay their utilities or go to the doctor. The challenging part: It all had to be done with very limited resources and time. Limited transportation options, little to no income, restricted social services...
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