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In my experience implementing online learning in higher education in Peru showed that for most poor families wi-fi time is gold, no matter the context/situation

In my experience implementing online learning in higher education in Peru showed that for most poor families wi-fi time is gold, no matter the context/situation. Student would connect as soon as they get into campus and work on things for her mother, father, uncles etc. From banking to social services, to buying things that are not available in local stores (mostly gifts or kids' toys). Work is done for family in between classes when time permits. I'm not surprised that kids at any age do the same (at school or in a bus) elsewhere.

dehrmann 6y ago
Seeing this, along with another top-level comment that what kids really lack is good parents, approaches for what broadly looks like "poverty" need to be different in developed vs. developing countries. People are poor for different reasons.
- searchableguy 6y ago
  Controversial opinion but I think stopping poor irresponsible people from becoming parents is a better solution because A. It requires less resources for the society. B. It is better for the kid to not exist than to end up with a miserable life. Crime statistics for poor dysfunctional households doesn't look good. C. Overpopulation is a problem. Even if you can feed 12 billion people, at what cost. And you can already feed that many. The problem is often political and societal (stopping food waste can solve global hunger). If someone can suggest a solution, I am all ears. D. Lower population will lead to better reforms and more attention or investment per kid. It will be easier to move forward policies and test things. Democracy won't be a bottleneck but will work for once.
  - leetcrew 6y ago
    the end goal of "only good parents have children" is a good one, but there are a lot of issues with implementing this in the real world, especially if it involves directly intervening in human reproductive choices. > B. It is better for the kid to not exist than to end up with a miserable life. Crime statistics for poor dysfunctional households doesn't look good. this is more a philosophical position than an objective fact, but I am inclined to agree with you. that is, if you could be certain that someone would have a terrible life, it would be better for them not to be born. the problem is the error bar on your good life vs. bad life projection. while the odds might be pretty bad for the group, individuals born in bad circumstances can and do become wealthy, achieve success in their field, and/or end up living generally happy lives. > C. Overpopulation is a problem. Even if you can feed 12 billion people, at what cost. And you can already feed that many. The problem is often political and societal (stopping food waste can solve global hunger). If someone can suggest a solution, I am all ears. overpopulation is not really a problem in the developed world, where birthrates tend to be at or slightly below replacement. the real problem with this idea is who "poor irresponsible people" turn out to be in practice. I won't speak to "irresponsible", as I'm not sure what to use as a source, but minorities are disproportionately represented among the poor. it's hard to see how this wouldn't end up disproportionately preventing minority children from being born. there's also the question of how you would prevent these people from having children in the first place, without using some very dystopian methods.

dehrmann 6y ago

Seeing this, along with another top-level comment that what kids really lack is good parents, approaches for what broadly looks like "poverty" need to be different in developed vs. developing countries. People are poor for different reasons.

searchableguy 6y ago
Controversial opinion but I think stopping poor irresponsible people from becoming parents is a better solution because A. It requires less resources for the society. B. It is better for the kid to not exist than to end up with a miserable life. Crime statistics for poor dysfunctional households doesn't look good. C. Overpopulation is a problem. Even if you can feed 12 billion people, at what cost. And you can already feed that many. The problem is often political and societal (stopping food waste can solve global hunger). If someone can suggest a solution, I am all ears. D. Lower population will lead to better reforms and more attention or investment per kid. It will be easier to move forward policies and test things. Democracy won't be a bottleneck but will work for once.
- leetcrew 6y ago
  the end goal of "only good parents have children" is a good one, but there are a lot of issues with implementing this in the real world, especially if it involves directly intervening in human reproductive choices. > B. It is better for the kid to not exist than to end up with a miserable life. Crime statistics for poor dysfunctional households doesn't look good. this is more a philosophical position than an objective fact, but I am inclined to agree with you. that is, if you could be certain that someone would have a terrible life, it would be better for them not to be born. the problem is the error bar on your good life vs. bad life projection. while the odds might be pretty bad for the group, individuals born in bad circumstances can and do become wealthy, achieve success in their field, and/or end up living generally happy lives. > C. Overpopulation is a problem. Even if you can feed 12 billion people, at what cost. And you can already feed that many. The problem is often political and societal (stopping food waste can solve global hunger). If someone can suggest a solution, I am all ears. overpopulation is not really a problem in the developed world, where birthrates tend to be at or slightly below replacement. the real problem with this idea is who "poor irresponsible people" turn out to be in practice. I won't speak to "irresponsible", as I'm not sure what to use as a source, but minorities are disproportionately represented among the poor. it's hard to see how this wouldn't end up disproportionately preventing minority children from being born. there's also the question of how you would prevent these people from having children in the first place, without using some very dystopian methods.