School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 8 – Week 34
I am well aware that the community in which I am teaching is comprised of very privileged and thoughtful people who give each other a lot of support and practical help in insuring that parenting is a top priority. Most of the people in this community earn a decent income and know that no one is impressed with expensive cars, houses or other things. All of us are aware that we are not a representative community. We are hopeful that some of our children are going to be tomorrow’s leaders. I am eager to hear that these future leaders and their families think can be done about the fact that many parents do not have the time and energy to be active parents?
The students are arriving now.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies today. Next week I will bring some.
I am eager to hear the suggestions of you and your families about what can be done about the fact that many parents do not have the time and energy to be active parents. They may not have the time or money to help with homework, allow them to be on a travel sports team, or to do a lot of activities with them. First, how it is that all of your families are able to spend some much time together.
Abdul: My parents said that they were attracted to this community because friends had told them that housing was more affordable and people here were different.
Me: Different in what way Abdul?
Abdul: People seemed to help each other and no one has expensive cars or stuff.
Me: What do you think that is?
Abdul: My mom says that parents here talk with each other about what is important.
Will: My parents said the same thing. They said they had never before lived any place where people talked about what is important.
Me: Really? What do they say is important?
Will: My dad could make more money if we was willing to travel but he wants to be home. All the other dads meet once a week to remind each other why they are not making more money.
Susie: My mom says that this neighborhood acts a lot like some intentional communities where people help each other with kids and share a lot of things like washing machines.
Me: Susie can you tell us more about intentional communities.
Susie: I do not know a lot Mr. Jim, but we did visit some last summer. In Pittsburgh, there is a neighborhood where all the people live in their own place but they agree to share lawn mowers, washing machines and other things. They have a separate building for those things.
Me: How does that help make time for parenting.
Susie: Well the people we talk to said they could take jobs which gave them more time off instead of more money. They also help each other with parenting.
Me: Very good Susie. There are also intentional communities where there are common dining rooms and all the chores, including parenting are shared. Some of them have their own small factories or ways of making money. For example, one community makes wooden toys. Another makes hammocks and other things they sell.
Tom: Most people do not live that way do they Mr. Jim?
Me: Sadly, no, many of families are pretty isolated and do not have others to help them.
Amena: Mom and dad said in many countries parents are given a lot of time off when there is a new baby.
Me: Yes, that is considered maternity and paternity leave. Our country gives less of that than most countries.
Paul: Mom said raising minimum way would help some but if someone is living as a single parent without other family it is still not good.
Me: I agree Paul.
Ann: Some churches have after school programs for kids. Sometimes kids our age help younger kids do homework and kind of become big brothers and big sisters.
Me: Yes, I know of some churches which do that.
John: My parents said that some rich people do not have time to parent. They work hard and think they deserve big houses and cars and stuff.
Me: That is a good point John. This is not just a problem with poor people. A lot of us grow up thinking we need to make more money and live in bigger houses than our parents. Why is that?
Tom: A lot of stuff on television makes it seems as if that is success. If you do not have big house and car you are a failure.
Me: Good point Tom. How do we decide to buy that or to not buy that idea of success?
Ann: This is the only class where we talk about those issues Mr. Jim.
Me: That is sad. I wonder why that is?
Susie: We are too busy learning how to be successful Mr. Jim.
(The class laughs.)
Me: It does sound funny but it is also true. A lot of your families also talk about what makes a person or a family successful. Again, not every family does that.
Paul: Is this a topic we could address on our Facebook account?
Me: I suspect it is. Talk to Mrs. Sandford. Should I tell Mrs. Sanford you want to meet with her?
Class: Yes, Mr. Jim.
Me: Great. I will do that. Goodness the time is early up. For next week let’s talk about the purpose of business. It may sound like a simple question but perhaps it is more complicated than it sounds. Someone recently was quoted as saying that in business it is better if you are better off if you do not have heart. What does that say about the meaning of the purpose of a business?
Will pass out the assignment please.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Written April 25, 2017
I am well aware that the community in which I am teaching is comprised of very privileged and thoughtful people who give each other a lot of support and practical help in insuring that parenting is a top priority. Most of the people in this community earn a decent income and know that no one is impressed with expensive cars, houses or other things. All of us are aware that we are not a representative community. We are hopeful that some of our children are going to be tomorrow’s leaders. I am eager to hear that these future leaders and their families think can be done about the fact that many parents do not have the time and energy to be active parents?
The students are arriving now.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: No cookies today. Next week I will bring some.
I am eager to hear the suggestions of you and your families about what can be done about the fact that many parents do not have the time and energy to be active parents. They may not have the time or money to help with homework, allow them to be on a travel sports team, or to do a lot of activities with them. First, how it is that all of your families are able to spend some much time together.
Abdul: My parents said that they were attracted to this community because friends had told them that housing was more affordable and people here were different.
Me: Different in what way Abdul?
Abdul: People seemed to help each other and no one has expensive cars or stuff.
Me: What do you think that is?
Abdul: My mom says that parents here talk with each other about what is important.
Will: My parents said the same thing. They said they had never before lived any place where people talked about what is important.
Me: Really? What do they say is important?
Will: My dad could make more money if we was willing to travel but he wants to be home. All the other dads meet once a week to remind each other why they are not making more money.
Susie: My mom says that this neighborhood acts a lot like some intentional communities where people help each other with kids and share a lot of things like washing machines.
Me: Susie can you tell us more about intentional communities.
Susie: I do not know a lot Mr. Jim, but we did visit some last summer. In Pittsburgh, there is a neighborhood where all the people live in their own place but they agree to share lawn mowers, washing machines and other things. They have a separate building for those things.
Me: How does that help make time for parenting.
Susie: Well the people we talk to said they could take jobs which gave them more time off instead of more money. They also help each other with parenting.
Me: Very good Susie. There are also intentional communities where there are common dining rooms and all the chores, including parenting are shared. Some of them have their own small factories or ways of making money. For example, one community makes wooden toys. Another makes hammocks and other things they sell.
Tom: Most people do not live that way do they Mr. Jim?
Me: Sadly, no, many of families are pretty isolated and do not have others to help them.
Amena: Mom and dad said in many countries parents are given a lot of time off when there is a new baby.
Me: Yes, that is considered maternity and paternity leave. Our country gives less of that than most countries.
Paul: Mom said raising minimum way would help some but if someone is living as a single parent without other family it is still not good.
Me: I agree Paul.
Ann: Some churches have after school programs for kids. Sometimes kids our age help younger kids do homework and kind of become big brothers and big sisters.
Me: Yes, I know of some churches which do that.
John: My parents said that some rich people do not have time to parent. They work hard and think they deserve big houses and cars and stuff.
Me: That is a good point John. This is not just a problem with poor people. A lot of us grow up thinking we need to make more money and live in bigger houses than our parents. Why is that?
Tom: A lot of stuff on television makes it seems as if that is success. If you do not have big house and car you are a failure.
Me: Good point Tom. How do we decide to buy that or to not buy that idea of success?
Ann: This is the only class where we talk about those issues Mr. Jim.
Me: That is sad. I wonder why that is?
Susie: We are too busy learning how to be successful Mr. Jim.
(The class laughs.)
Me: It does sound funny but it is also true. A lot of your families also talk about what makes a person or a family successful. Again, not every family does that.
Paul: Is this a topic we could address on our Facebook account?
Me: I suspect it is. Talk to Mrs. Sandford. Should I tell Mrs. Sanford you want to meet with her?
Class: Yes, Mr. Jim.
Me: Great. I will do that. Goodness the time is early up. For next week let’s talk about the purpose of business. It may sound like a simple question but perhaps it is more complicated than it sounds. Someone recently was quoted as saying that in business it is better if you are better off if you do not have heart. What does that say about the meaning of the purpose of a business?
Will pass out the assignment please.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Written April 25, 2017
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