They only had an 8th grade education. 1895 final exam

I think the phrase you guys are looking for is personal responsibility. Sorry, but that phrase has been removed and instead we'll just sue your ass.

My entire 1-12 schooling was at a private British school run by parents. We respected our teachers/elders and our parents made sure we had capable teachers and a few got fired for incompetency. We also never had automatic class promotions, if you didn't live up to the expectations you were held back. If you got held back twice you were told to leave. Since the entire school had 400 kids (average class size was around 25 or less) there were plenty of people waiting to get in. I cannot fathom how your average high school or college kid has no respect for their educators, but then again I notice that most of them are latch key kids. But, they are latch key kids because in today's world both parents have to work in order to subsist.

Taking a proactive role in your kids future is important, at 28 and in graduate school I still tell my dad and mom what grades I got and if I am doing poorly inform them. Yet when I taught I inadvertently got students cheating and their parents seemed oblivious, when the proverbial E36 M3 hit the fan and a meeting was held, that their precious kids were failing and cheating. To them its write the check every semester and that is it.

Actual parenting is an enormous black hole nationwide

Better?

4cylndrfury wrote: Actual parenting is an enormous black hole nationwide Better?

what....

no.

I take offense to this as I am a parent and rather happy to be one....

this lady guides the way.

autoxrs wrote: But, they are latch key kids because in today's world both parents have to work in order to subsist.

both parents "have" to work in order to subsist ....

only if you think you have to have every thing that you see advertised .... we don't need cell phones (got along fine with out them as little as 10 yrs ago) (the world hasn't changed all that much, just the advertising) we don't need 52" plasma tvs... don't even need cable ( as several on this board have pointed out), we don't need 2 - 3 times the size of house we get "talked into buying", we don't need the latest and greatest car to come along.... lots more we don't needs.... but you get the point

there are more and more families that are living on one income... some because they have to and others because they realize that to survive they really need to

SVreX wrote: I would also add, however, that it sounds like you work in a VERY UNUSUAL school system. Parental involvement in the schools is an enormous black hole nationwide.

Unusualy? Yes. Very unusual? Maybe. It is a small private school. It's also a Montessori school (see picture above).

What's really infuriating is that we're able to offer such a better quality education with a lot more teachers for each student than public schools, and get about 1/2 the money, per-student, that public schools get.

wbjones wrote: only if you think you have to have every thing that you see advertised .... we don't need cell phones (got along fine with out them as little as 10 yrs ago) (the world hasn't changed all that much, just the advertising) we don't need 52" plasma tvs... don't even need cable ( as several on this board have pointed out), we don't need 2 - 3 times the size of house we get "talked into buying", we don't need the latest and greatest car to come along.... lots more we don't needs.... but you get the point

I think the phrase you want is living within your means, sorry that ones gone to the same place as personal responsibility.

If your average person knew how to live within their means, much of their financial debacles wouldn't exist.

woah

wbjones wrote:

autoxrs wrote: But, they are latch key kids because in today's world both parents have to work in order to subsist.

both parents "have" to work in order to subsist ....

My wife hasn't worked outside the home in 22 years (her choice). Our kids are doing great. We are WAAY beyond subsistence.

SVreX wrote: My wife hasn't worked outside the home in 22 years (her choice). Our kids are doing great. We are WAAY beyond subsistence.

Were on our third year with a single income. We have twins and to put them in child care is far more than she could make in a job at this point in time. We aren't starving either. We've made decisions that required sacrifices to make them. (Had to buy a van. Chose to cut back on everything to buy a nicer odyssey instead of a burnt out caravan or aerostar) But that is what we deemed to be the prudent decision. I owe for my house and I owe on that van. I think my kids are learning faster because of my wife being able to stay home.

They are. (A Dad of 5 homeschooled kids, 2 of whom are now honors students in prestigious universities)

autoxrs wrote:

wbjones wrote: only if you think you have to have every thing that you see advertised .... we don't need cell phones (got along fine with out them as little as 10 yrs ago) (the world hasn't changed all that much, just the advertising) we don't need 52" plasma tvs... don't even need cable ( as several on this board have pointed out), we don't need 2 - 3 times the size of house we get "talked into buying", we don't need the latest and greatest car to come along.... lots more we don't needs.... but you get the point

I think the phrase you want is living within your means, sorry that ones gone to the same place as personal responsibility. If your average person knew how to live within their means, much of their financial debacles wouldn't exist.

actually I was going around a bout way to bring back up the thought of need vs want

and I think you are right about the financial debacles ...

Salanis wrote:

SVreX wrote: I would also add, however, that it sounds like you work in a VERY UNUSUAL school system. Parental involvement in the schools is an enormous black hole nationwide.

Unusualy? Yes. *Very* unusual? Maybe. It is a small private school. It's also a Montessori school (see picture above). What's really infuriating is that we're able to offer such a better quality education with a lot more teachers for each student than public schools, and get about 1/2 the money, per-student, that public schools get.

Just imagine what they will do with health care.

Part of the difference is the parents of your children have a vested interest in their children doing well because they are paying for it. The public system suffers from the "free" syndrome. If it's free it isn't as important.