We Need Compassion More than Standards

There are two causes that have been suggested as the major contributors to poor student achievement. One view attributes student underachievement to educational factors such as inadequate standards and poor teachers. The other view sees societal factors as the main contributor to low student achievement. This commentary looks at one societal factor: poverty. It is suggested that poverty is a major contributor to low student achievement and that dealing with the issue of poverty in society should be a larger concern than creating and enforcing higher educational standards.