Social Barometer

A social Barometer determines different behaviors in different societies. The social Barometer can cover topics from physical and mental health to education and employment. Looking at Australia and The United States, they have different social Barometers. They have similarities with in their socioeconomic status and mental health and children with disabilities and distress. Where the differences show with obesity and students political engagement. There are many similarities in addition.

Socioeconomic status is a measure of an individuals or family’s economic and social position in relation to others, based on income, education and occupation. Both Australia and the United States have a wide variety of socioeconomically statuses throughout

their country. Typically, a socioeconomic disadvantage refers to families of low income or education. When a family or individual is disadvantaged, “longitudinal research confirms a strong relationship between the well-being of young people and their social situation. This works both ways in that well-being has also been found to contribute to positive outcomes for young people” (Boese and Scutella, 2006, 1). The most impactful negative outcome is ill health. Ill health in children both living in the United States and Australia with impact their education immensely. When a child is sick they will not attend school, not attending school makes them lose out on a full day of learning and can put them behind. If a child has no food to eat because their family does not have enough money, they will not want to go to school, they will find a way to no go, additionally not receiving food or an education. Research has shown that students from a “low households and communities develop academic skills more slowly compared to children from higher socioeconomic status groups” (1, 2016). Students who have low socioeconomically status also do not have the money to be able to support their academics. Socioeconomically status can also effect a child’s mental health making learning and school a challenge.
A Majority of Young students and teens living in Australia and The United states either have a disability, mental disorders, or psychological distress.

In Australia children with disabilities is estimated to be nine percent. In the united states and Australia, young children “are the group with the highest levels of psychological distress (anxiety, depression and worry)” (9, 2006). The rate of mental disorders and distress has increased by .8, over three years. Bringing in stress to the classroom makes learning very challenging. Students with slot of stress each learn differently, and teachers do not know how to help each child to succeed. Stress can cause a child not be able to work because they have so much on their mind that they cannot get anything finished. Others focus too much on one task and can not do anything else until that one task is perfect. Younger children do not know ways to help themselves with this distress because they have not experienced I and learned ways to help themselves. Children with mental disorders may not want to come to school for the fear of their peers making fun of them. They also do not learn the same way as others, and they may get frustrated and not want to learn. Once a child does not want to learn, they will stop loving education and they will be very hard to get back enjoying

learning.
Something that concerns teachers in todays society, is childhood obesity. Both Australia and The united states have obesity in children, however The United States have a much higher obesity rate than Australia. In Australia the children are “more likely to be overweight or obese than they were ten years ago”( 6, 2006). While in The United States 17 percent of children are overweight. While both of the countries have overweight children, the United States continues to expand. Children who are unhealthy have a harder time learning and focusing on their school work. Studies show that when you have a healthy body, you have an easier time focusing. They also can face bullying at a young age during school which can lead to low self esteem and eating problems in the future. While both of these countries have obesity, the united states have a much higher rate, with more problems that will face them in school, and their future selves’.
Lastly, there is a huge difference between political engagement in the United states and Australia.

In Australia the young adults “are less likely to be enrolled to vote than older groups. An estimated 300,000 Australians aged 18 to 25 do not vote in elections because they have not enrolled” (31,2006). While in the United States, “19% of all votes cast in 2012 came from young voters” (2016). While voting does not effect young children since they cannot vote, however when teens vote it allows them to become more educated in their country and their political system. Since most of the teens in Australia do not vote, they do not have copious amount of knowledge from their countries political system. Having this knowledge will allow students to use this knowledge in their school life helping them understand history and government

better.
Both Australia and The United States have many social barometers in common, but also ones that are very different. Both Australia and The United States have similar socioeconomic status issues that can carry into a child’s education, additionally students with a disability or mental illness which have been becoming more apparent over the last few years. The major differences are childhood obesity, where The United states have a much higher obesity rate with many more health and education concerns that come along with it, and secondly, politically engagement. The United states have young individuals who vote more, making these individuals able to understand and use political knowledge in their education.