Educating in Spite of Students' Social & Economic Disparities

Wood River - We talk with Superintendent Patrick Anderson, the author of "The Kid in the Purple Pants" that concerns his own poor economic upbringing, and how educators can overcome the multiple social problems that creep into the classrooms of today. From single mothers, divorced parents, drug addicted families, or those who are raised in extreme poverty - students face a multitude of challenges that also challenge educators.

Superintendent Anderson has the real-world education of having attended school owning just ONE pair of pants as a child. He understands the emotional trauma that impacts many students - But his approach is to educate DESPITE these challenges, not to adopt those as an excuse to fail students.

His fascinating life lessons are now helping the students in his district learn, and hold lessons for us all to understand.

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