School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 8– Week 35
Many may argue that it is not the job of the school system to teach values. Some would say that it is the job of the family and church to teach values or morals. I would argue that it is the job of the school to teach children how to ask the appropriate questions regarding morals and values and how to go about exploring possible answers. Certainly, it is not the job of the school system to tell children definitive answers although all the staff of the school will, hopefully, model behavior based on a solid respect for all traditions for each other as well as the students.
I am eager to hear what these young people think should be the relationship between heart and business.
The students have arrived.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: Yes, I have cookies. Tom and Ann please pass them out.
(As usual they are quickly consumed)
Me: I am eager to have you share the results of your discussions with your family members about the relationship between heart and business. Actually, I had asked you to think about the statement recently made by a very prominent business person in the United States. He said, “In business it is better if you do not have heart.” First, what do you think the person meant?
Susie: My parents and I think he meant that the purpose of a business is for the owners to take care of themselves.
Me: Say more about that Susie. What do you think that means?
Susie: Well, mom said that if we lived in a remote village we might each make or do something which others in the village needed. Some things might be just for children or women but no matter what everyone would share everything with anyone in the village who needed it.
Me: So your mom is saying that there would not be any need for business companies. So, what happens if someone in the village heard about medical service at a hospital which could help their sick mother?
Tom: Then they have to have some way of paying so that everyone in the hospital who did not live and work just in a village could also buy food and housing.
Me: Very good Tom and Susie. If you were responsible for setting up the hospital what kind of business model would you have?
Tom: What do you mean Mr., Jim?
Paul: Do you mean some hospitals are set up by churches and might not expect to make a profit and some might be set up to make a profit?
Me: Very good Paul. In the village Susie was describing everyone has a job making or gathering something. Whatever they make or gather belongs to the entire community. If that village had a church which decided to have a building, the members might contribute money to build the church and to maintain it. If they hired a minister all the members would pay the minister a salary or the elders of the community could take turns performing the duties of the minister or priest. If, however, a person decided to start a church and raised money to build the church building all the extra money after expense would go the minister. The minister might decide to use only a small amount to take care of himself or herself and the church and use the rest to take care of those who need food, clothing or other services. That church would not be making or expecting to make a profit.
Will: Don’t some ministers keep a lot of the money and make a big profit?
Me: Good question Will. There are those who use the legal option for churches to be called non-profits and make a huge profit - frequently for one person.
Amena: Is that why in some churches there are lots of gold and other things which cost lot of money?
Me: In that case the church organization is making a profit but they would say that they are only collecting enough money to create a beautiful place to worship.
Amena: My dad says the local Bishop lives better than most people.
Me: That may be true Amena but since he does not own anything directly then the church could still technically be a non-profit.
If no one directly makes a profit but is paid a huge salary, then the organization could still be a non-profit.
There are also not-for-profit business or organizations. They may be an organization where the organization itself is not worth money but all members share in all the extra money or are paid a huge salary.
Paul: Wasn’t there a local health care organization which was not-for-profit but paid the head and some others a really big salary?
Me: Yes, the stated goal was not to make a profit but they were bringing in a lot of money, paying huge salaries to some and building lots of new buildings in different communities.
Abdul: What if the purpose of the company is to make money for all those who own it?
Me: Then we have a for-profit company. The primary goal is to make money. Does anyone remember when a company bought the right to make epi-pens which are used for people who have a severe allergic reaction and decided to charge $600.00 for each pen which only cost a few dollars to make?
Ann: We talked about that at home. That company did not have a heart. They just wanted to make money even if a lot of people got hurt or died.
Me: That is right Ann What the person who I was quoting was saying seemed to be saying was that if you care about how the behavior of the company affected other people, such as the people who needed epi-pens to stay alive, then they were bad business people. To that person, it is the purpose of the company to make money for all those who own the company or have invested in it – the shareholders.
Will: In a lot of poor neighborhoods where a lot of people might not have cars the groceries stores charge a lot more money because they know people have to shop there. Isn’t that wrong Mr. Jim?
Me: Well, that is what all of you and other young people are going to have to decide. Soon you will grow up and you will be working for, owning or in charge of all the businesses. You will have to decide if the primary purpose is to make money. If it is then some would say that it is important to not have heart. In that case, Will, it would be okay to charge high prices in the grocery store in a poor neighborhood?
Amena: That seems wrong Mr. Jim.
Me: You all will have to decide. Some would argue that the business companies provide jobs so that all the workers can buy what they need. If they do not make a profit, then no one would want to keep that business and then there would be no jobs and everyone would be homeless and go hungry.
Susie: That did not happen in the village Mr. Jim.
Me: No it did not seem to happen in the village. Since we are running out of time perhaps you could research and discuss the possible reasons for this with your families and we could share what we think next week.
You all did a great job. I love that you are learning to ask some really important questions. I am very impressed.
Will and Ann please pass out the remaining cookies. Susie pass out the assignment please.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Have a good week everyone.
Class: Bye Mr. Jim
Written May 3, 2017
Many may argue that it is not the job of the school system to teach values. Some would say that it is the job of the family and church to teach values or morals. I would argue that it is the job of the school to teach children how to ask the appropriate questions regarding morals and values and how to go about exploring possible answers. Certainly, it is not the job of the school system to tell children definitive answers although all the staff of the school will, hopefully, model behavior based on a solid respect for all traditions for each other as well as the students.
I am eager to hear what these young people think should be the relationship between heart and business.
The students have arrived.
Me: Good morning class.
Class: Good morning Mr. Jim. Cookies?
Me: Yes, I have cookies. Tom and Ann please pass them out.
(As usual they are quickly consumed)
Me: I am eager to have you share the results of your discussions with your family members about the relationship between heart and business. Actually, I had asked you to think about the statement recently made by a very prominent business person in the United States. He said, “In business it is better if you do not have heart.” First, what do you think the person meant?
Susie: My parents and I think he meant that the purpose of a business is for the owners to take care of themselves.
Me: Say more about that Susie. What do you think that means?
Susie: Well, mom said that if we lived in a remote village we might each make or do something which others in the village needed. Some things might be just for children or women but no matter what everyone would share everything with anyone in the village who needed it.
Me: So your mom is saying that there would not be any need for business companies. So, what happens if someone in the village heard about medical service at a hospital which could help their sick mother?
Tom: Then they have to have some way of paying so that everyone in the hospital who did not live and work just in a village could also buy food and housing.
Me: Very good Tom and Susie. If you were responsible for setting up the hospital what kind of business model would you have?
Tom: What do you mean Mr., Jim?
Paul: Do you mean some hospitals are set up by churches and might not expect to make a profit and some might be set up to make a profit?
Me: Very good Paul. In the village Susie was describing everyone has a job making or gathering something. Whatever they make or gather belongs to the entire community. If that village had a church which decided to have a building, the members might contribute money to build the church and to maintain it. If they hired a minister all the members would pay the minister a salary or the elders of the community could take turns performing the duties of the minister or priest. If, however, a person decided to start a church and raised money to build the church building all the extra money after expense would go the minister. The minister might decide to use only a small amount to take care of himself or herself and the church and use the rest to take care of those who need food, clothing or other services. That church would not be making or expecting to make a profit.
Will: Don’t some ministers keep a lot of the money and make a big profit?
Me: Good question Will. There are those who use the legal option for churches to be called non-profits and make a huge profit - frequently for one person.
Amena: Is that why in some churches there are lots of gold and other things which cost lot of money?
Me: In that case the church organization is making a profit but they would say that they are only collecting enough money to create a beautiful place to worship.
Amena: My dad says the local Bishop lives better than most people.
Me: That may be true Amena but since he does not own anything directly then the church could still technically be a non-profit.
If no one directly makes a profit but is paid a huge salary, then the organization could still be a non-profit.
There are also not-for-profit business or organizations. They may be an organization where the organization itself is not worth money but all members share in all the extra money or are paid a huge salary.
Paul: Wasn’t there a local health care organization which was not-for-profit but paid the head and some others a really big salary?
Me: Yes, the stated goal was not to make a profit but they were bringing in a lot of money, paying huge salaries to some and building lots of new buildings in different communities.
Abdul: What if the purpose of the company is to make money for all those who own it?
Me: Then we have a for-profit company. The primary goal is to make money. Does anyone remember when a company bought the right to make epi-pens which are used for people who have a severe allergic reaction and decided to charge $600.00 for each pen which only cost a few dollars to make?
Ann: We talked about that at home. That company did not have a heart. They just wanted to make money even if a lot of people got hurt or died.
Me: That is right Ann What the person who I was quoting was saying seemed to be saying was that if you care about how the behavior of the company affected other people, such as the people who needed epi-pens to stay alive, then they were bad business people. To that person, it is the purpose of the company to make money for all those who own the company or have invested in it – the shareholders.
Will: In a lot of poor neighborhoods where a lot of people might not have cars the groceries stores charge a lot more money because they know people have to shop there. Isn’t that wrong Mr. Jim?
Me: Well, that is what all of you and other young people are going to have to decide. Soon you will grow up and you will be working for, owning or in charge of all the businesses. You will have to decide if the primary purpose is to make money. If it is then some would say that it is important to not have heart. In that case, Will, it would be okay to charge high prices in the grocery store in a poor neighborhood?
Amena: That seems wrong Mr. Jim.
Me: You all will have to decide. Some would argue that the business companies provide jobs so that all the workers can buy what they need. If they do not make a profit, then no one would want to keep that business and then there would be no jobs and everyone would be homeless and go hungry.
Susie: That did not happen in the village Mr. Jim.
Me: No it did not seem to happen in the village. Since we are running out of time perhaps you could research and discuss the possible reasons for this with your families and we could share what we think next week.
You all did a great job. I love that you are learning to ask some really important questions. I am very impressed.
Will and Ann please pass out the remaining cookies. Susie pass out the assignment please.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Me: Have a good week everyone.
Class: Bye Mr. Jim
Written May 3, 2017
RSS Feed