Module 33 Blog

Blog: Can children learn in school if they are hungry or feel unsafe in their neighborhood? Take Maslow’s hierarchy of needs into account when answering this question. What criticisms would you offer about this hierarchy?

            Maslow suggested that humans have a hierarchy of needs ranging from lower-level needs for survival and safety to higher-level needs for intellectual achievement and finally self- actualization. Self-actualization was the term he used for fulfilling one’s potential. The lower- level needs were for survival, then safety, followed by belonging and then self-esteem-deficiency needs. Then he labeled the three higher-level needs-intellectual achievement, then aesthetic appreciation, and finally self-actualization which are the being needs. In my opinion, I think that it would be difficult for a child to learn in school if they are hungry or feel unsafe in their neighborhood. When I child is hungry, I think that they don’t have the energy to focus and retain information. I also think that if they feel unsafe in their neighborhood then school may be a bit of a safe haven for them to relax, but if the school is in their neighborhood then they will not feel safe at school. Either way having a child that feels unsafe will have a hard time at school because they will be worried about everything else that is going on around them. I think that in order for us to reach the level of self-actualization, we need to have our other needs met first which is why I believe that those should be our higher-level of needs. I think that Maslow’s theory does not take every type of person into consideration. Some people’s higher and lower needs are different from others. I think this hierarchy needs to take a look at people and how their different needs vary. A child that comes from a rough home life is going to have their higher need for things such as safety, whereas a child who comes from a very nurturing and loving upbringing will more than likely be looking to fill their own potential.