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begin to surface much sooner than two generations if the family lives with others who are from generational poverty. Situational poverty is defined as a lack of resources due to a particular event (i.e., a death, chronic illness, divorce, etc.). Generational poverty has its own culture, hidden rules, and belief systems. One of the key indicators of whether it is generational or situational poverty is the prevailing attitude. Often the attitude in generational poverty is that society owes one a living. In situational poverty the attitude is often one of pride and a refusal to accept charity. Individuals in situational poverty often bring more resources with them to the situation than those in generational poverty. Of particular importance is the use of formal register.
    What, then, makes generational poverty so different from the middle class? How is it that school is such an unsatisfactory experience for many students from poverty? Several of these differences were mentioned in the last chapter on hidden rules. To examine the differences, a case study will be used.

    CASE STUDY: WALTER (Cau(asian male)
    Italicized type indicates the narrator; plain type indicates comments from various listeners. Names have been changed to protect the girl.
    AS THE STORY WOULD BE TOLD IN POVERTY ... PROBABLY BY A RELATIVE OR NEIGHBOR:
    Well, you know Walter got put away for37 years. Him being 48 and all. He'll probably die in jail. Just couldn't leave his hands off that 12-year-old Susie.
    Dirty old man. Bodding's gonna whup his tail.
    Already did. You know Bodding was waiting for him in jail and beat the living daylights out of him.
    In jail?
    Yeah, Bodding got caught for possession. Had $12,000 on him when they arrested him.
    Golly, wish I had been there to cash in!!!! (laughter) A man's gotta make a living!
    Susie being blind and all-I can see why Bodding beat the daylights out of Walter. Lucky he didn't get killed, old Walter is.
    Too bad her momma is no good.
    She started the whole thing! Susie's momma goes over there and argues with Bodding.
    Ain't they divorced?
    Yeah, and she's got Walter working for her, repairing her house or something.
    Or something, I bet. What's she got in her house that's worth fixing?
    Anyway, shegoes over to Bodding's house to take the lawnmower ...
    I reckon so as Walter can mow the yard?? I bet that's the first time old Walter has ever broken a sweat! Reminds me of the time I saw Walter thinking about taking a job. All that thinking and he had to get drunk. He went to jail that time, too-a felony, I think it was. So many of those DWIs. Judge told him he was egregious. Walter said he wasn't greasy-he took a bath last week!!! (laughter)
    Bodding and Susie's momma got in a fight, so she tells Walter to take Susie with him.

    Lordy, her elevator must not go all the way to the top!! Didn't she know about him getting arrested for enticing a minor???
    With Susie blind and all. And she sends Susie with Walter?
    She sure don't care about her babies.
    Well, Walter's momma was there 'cause Walter lives with his momma, seeing as how he can't keep no job.
    Ain't his other brother there?
    Yeah, and him 41 years old. That poor momma sure has her burdens to bear. And then her3o-year-old daughter, Susie's momma, at home, too. You know Susie's momma lost custody of her kids. Walter gets these videos, you know. Those adult videos. Heavy breathing! (laughter)
    Some of them are more fun to listen to than look at! (laughter) Those people in the videos are des-per-ate!!
    Anyway, he puts those on and then carries Susie to his room and tells her she wants him-and describes all his sex-u-al exploits!!
    Golly, he must be a loooooooooover. (laughter) He should be shot. I'd kill him if he did that to my kid!!
    Then he lets his fingers do the walking.
    Kinda like the Yellow Pages! (laughter)
    I guess he didn't do anything with his "thang," according to Miss Rosie who went to that trial every day. And Susie begging him to stop so many