Whether in the classroom, the workplace or the business, people need to understand and communicate more effectively with people living in poverty, Muskogee educator Heather Jones said.

Jones, an instructional coach for Muskogee Public Schools recently presented “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” at the Muskogee Public Library. The presentation was the start of what school officials hope will be a cooperative effort between schools and the business community.

“Schools, businesses and industries operate from a middle-class norm,” Jones said. “Understanding the hidden rules of class, whether upper, middle, or lower, can help a person navigate through life more successfully.”

Jones’ presentation was based on the work of Ruby Payne, a Texas educator who trains people how to work with those of other economic classes.

Jones said each social class — poverty, middle class and wealth — has its own “hidden rules” when it comes to money, world view, time, even the value of education.

For example, people living poverty tend to see money as a tool to be used and spent; middle class sees money as something to be managed; wealthy people see money as something to be conserved and invested.

“For a person in poverty, the present is most important, because they do not know where they are going to be tomorrow,” Jones said, adding that people in poverty tend to operate from a survival mindset.

“People in poverty tend to believe in fate, that they cannot do much to change their current circumstances,” she said. “Someone in middle class believes they can change the future with choices made now.”

As a result, schools and businesses need to teach those in poverty that their “rules” are not the same as those learned at home, that there are “two sets of rules,” Jones said.

“We have to teach kids there are consequences to behavior,” she said. “We cannot excuse students or scold them for not knowing the rules. We need to teach them to be successful.”

She said people wanting to move out of poverty may need to give up certain relationships for a while to accomplish their goals.

Muskogee High School computer teacher Cindy Kane cited that example from her own life.

“I was the first one in my family who went to college, and I was treated differently because I went away to school,” she said.

Kay Cannarsa, a Muskogee business owner who does substitute teaching, said students need to see mentor role models.

“We have the baby boomer generation that has a wealth of knowledge,” she said. “They can give two to three hours a week tutoring. We have a lot of engineers, a lot of people who are retired. These kids got to see someone they can relate to who can walk the walk.”

Jones said she would like to “have a community conversation on what we can do with kids.”

“They want to be listened to,” Cannarsa said. “They are crying out for help.”

MPS Public Relations Director Melony Carey said the district plans to offer a joint book study on Payne’s work, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” to the community. She said the district will work with the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce and other businesses on the program.