Maslows Hierarchy

1) 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.

2)What criticisms would you offer about this hierarchy?

Answers

1.            No child will be able to learn if all they are worrying about is when their next meal will come, or if their going to get beat up on the walk back from school.  A child's lower level hierarchy needs will also take importance to the factors toward the top (people must fulfill their lower level needs such as for survival, safety, followed by belonging and then self-esteem first).

One criticism I would offer is how it says its a universal hierarchy, but there is no way it is relevant to everybody. It says that self-safety is before family, but I know plenty of mothers that would take a bullet for their child and vice versa.