Social Investment and Children

In class today we were asked to discuss how in our experience how have children been impacted by government cut backs in social programs such as housing, education, health care, social and family services, recreation and culture.

When something is cut out then of course it is going to lead to a change. In cutting back public housing, education, health care, social and family services, recreation and culture children’s life is going to be impacted. I think the big social program that children are impacted by if the government makes cut backs are education.  If teachers are laid off then students are put into larger size classrooms, which means that children are not able to get one on one help and have the best learning experience. When teachers are laid off the special education teacher are being laid off too, which means that the children that need one on one attention are being integrated into regular, larger classrooms. Children with special needs are not getting the special attention they need to grow and thrive. The government needs to recognize this before these children are adults and do not have any standard living skills that they should learn in school. The main reason for school is to prepare children for life this includes children of all abilities. If children with disabilities are not taught life skill then when they are done school they will be on the street, then the government will have another problem.  Recreation is another big impact on children if the government cuts back on it. If there are cut backs on recreation then parents have to come up with the money, which some families cannot afford paying for all the recreation activities that their children want to participate in. Thus the child ends up not being in recreational activities, which could lead to obesity. Then the government has another problem with several young children being obese and having health problems. If the government cuts back health care then the obese, unhealthy children cannot see a doctor and get the help they need. It is a vicious circle. If something is cut back then there are going to be many more problems that arise. Therefore I think welfare state liberalism is the best way to go. I understand that most governments are neoliberalism, because it is less expensive, but cutting back important social programs impacts the people of their country.