alt.education

On Feb 14, 9:28 pm, "teachrmama" wrote:
> "Wide Eyed in Wonder" wrote in messagenews:cad38d7d-7eac-46e8-b587-06e1da74ac69@...
>
>
>
> > On Feb 12, 10:16 pm, "teachrmama" wrote:
> >> "Wide Eyed in Wonder" wrote in
> >> messagenews:1c2b871f-1901-4f56-9c15-3616478242fe@...
>
> >> > On Feb 10, 3:06 pm, "teachrmama" wrote:
> >> >> "Wide Eyed in Wonder" wrote in
> >> >> messagenews:3f28bf2d-bc04-4674-ac98-4657b9ef88aa@...
>
> >> >> > On Feb 4, 4:09 pm, Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
> >> >> >> I saw an article in the last NEA Today article about the need to
> >> >> >> teach
> >> >> >> kids about saving money. I agree. How many of us decided to start
> >> >> >> saving for retirement at some point, and we were told how much more
> >> >> >> we
> >> >> >> could've had if we had just started saving sooner? I think it
> >> >> >> would
> >> >> >> be a good idea to start a savings account as a class project for
> >> >> >> all
> >> >> >> of our students, even if it were only a dime put away each month.
> >> >> >> This habit could save them a lot of grief, later in life.
>
> >> >> >> Kenneth Clifton
> >> >> >>
>
> >> >> > I let this go on for a bit before I would post this. I wanted to
> >> >> > let
> >> >> > my opponents commit themselves to an anti-savings teaching
> >> >> > suggestion. This link...
> >> >> >/money/
>
> >> >> > ..is an NEA posted story coordinated with the SEC about how to teach
> >> >> > your kids about saving money and investing.
>
> >> >> > I'm betting that Rowley, Teachermama, Bob, and others will SUDDENLY
> >> >> > suggest they weren't against teaching savings at all. Let's find
> >> >> > out.
>
> >> >> BTW, the subject line of the thread is "Teaching kids TO save money."
> >> >> It
> >> >> is
> >> >> not our job to teach kids TO save money. We teach them the mechanics
> >> >> and
> >> >> results of money management--it is their choice whether or not to do
> >> >> so.
> >> >> It
> >> >> is the job of the parents to instill in them the habit of saving.
>
> >> > Heaven forbid you should support teaching kids TO do math or read
> >> > books, right? After all, we are not here to force them to do it but
> >> > just teach mechanics of it...right? That was your point, here?
>
> >> Absolutely right, Kenneth!! And the light goes on. I teach children the
> >> mechanica of reading. I work very hard to do that at school Whether or
> >> not
> >> they become readers at home is a *chioce* they make. I give them the
> >> tools.
> >> They decide when an how to use them. Wow--you are finally getting it.
>
> > Got it. You do not teach kids to read, write, or do math, by your
> > confession. I guess that is the difference, here. Their success in
> > doing those things is what I deem my own success as a teacher. You
> > are just there to ...what...get a paycheck?
>
> I cannot teach a child to pick up and read a book at home. I
> cannot teach a child to use math when shopping to find the best bargains. I
> can only give them the tools to do those things. YOU can only give them the
> tools--but you cannot "teach them" to use those tools--that is a choice they
> will make. I give my students tools and the opportunity to practice using
> those tools in the classroom. You can recommend, encourage, and demonstrate
> what they do with then outside the classroom is a choice they make.

You didn't answer the question. If your purpose in teaching isn't the
success of the child (since we cannot force them to use the tools we
teach), why do you teach...a paycheck? What is your motivation?

Kenneth Clifton