Child Earns Clock Radio For 78 Hours Of Work
John O. Andersen
For those of you who are struggling to find ways to teach your children the
value of working hard, here's an inspirational story.
http://www.theonion.com/onion3540/clock_radio.html
John Andersen
http://members.xoom.com/joandersen
value of working hard, here's an inspirational story.
http://www.theonion.com/onion3540/clock_radio.html
John Andersen
http://members.xoom.com/joandersen
Joel Hawthorne
I read the story and would like to voice a bit of dissent.
Work is definitely over-rated. Work often strangles the values which we purport to hold.
When young Peter wants to quit after being verbally abused by a jerk his father goes on to say
"I knew, though, that if I just let him give up, he'd never learn the importance of following through on
things. So I gave him a long lecture about how hard life is and how people are going to yell at him every day when he has a real
job. And I kept asking him if he wanted to go back and try for that radio, until he finally said yes."
This doesn't strike me as a very satisfactory response. I personally don't want my children to settle for jobs where people are going
to yell at them everyday. Of course it is possible to badger a kid into doing what you think is right. He could have just as easily
said "Well selling stuff door to door is that way, maybe there is an easier way for you to get that clock radio you want." I know this
lacks that certain work ethic, Calvinistic flavour which seems to appeal so much to many people but really seems more relevant.
I find the whole exercise a "teaching" sort of enterprise. The lessons in the whole thing have more to do with being exploited by a
number of different people. Those lessons are important and Peter would have learned them, given the chance. However the work ethic
propaganda of the father supplanted these real lessons. So Peter winds up with getting a cheap radio for which he had to do unnecessary
work for a company that made most of the money, being abused by both a customer and (in my opinion) his father in the process. In
addition he gets the message that one should put up with undeserved s**t instead of changing the situation and meeting one's needs in a
more satisfactory way.
The lessons that there are unchangeable crappy things that happen, that there are evil exploitative institutions and employers from whom
you must accept crap, all can be learned if they must be learned at all ....on the job so to speak.
I don't think I am being simply contrary. I didn't like the story. I think that the virtues of struggling against adversity,
persisting in the face of obstacles, and being able to set a goal and achieve it are much better served by other stories.
Eek. I just reread the story again and like it less and less. Peter could have bought a better clock radio for 75 cents at a yard
sale. Retch!
Upon second reading I think the father is an unmitigated bully who is using his kid for his own vicarious satisfaction.
" But perhaps Peter's greatest reward is the pride he has given his parents, who know that their son can accomplish whatever he sets
his mind to."
Therein lies the real confusion. Peter is doing this to please his parents who don't really believe that Peter can accomplish whatever
he sets his mind to unless they "teach" or in this case "make" him accomplish it.
John you seem right on the mark about many things but I think you should think this one out again.
"John O. Andersen" wrote:
best wishes
Joel
For a wonderful gift possibility and to support a great cause check out:
http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
Work is definitely over-rated. Work often strangles the values which we purport to hold.
When young Peter wants to quit after being verbally abused by a jerk his father goes on to say
"I knew, though, that if I just let him give up, he'd never learn the importance of following through on
things. So I gave him a long lecture about how hard life is and how people are going to yell at him every day when he has a real
job. And I kept asking him if he wanted to go back and try for that radio, until he finally said yes."
This doesn't strike me as a very satisfactory response. I personally don't want my children to settle for jobs where people are going
to yell at them everyday. Of course it is possible to badger a kid into doing what you think is right. He could have just as easily
said "Well selling stuff door to door is that way, maybe there is an easier way for you to get that clock radio you want." I know this
lacks that certain work ethic, Calvinistic flavour which seems to appeal so much to many people but really seems more relevant.
I find the whole exercise a "teaching" sort of enterprise. The lessons in the whole thing have more to do with being exploited by a
number of different people. Those lessons are important and Peter would have learned them, given the chance. However the work ethic
propaganda of the father supplanted these real lessons. So Peter winds up with getting a cheap radio for which he had to do unnecessary
work for a company that made most of the money, being abused by both a customer and (in my opinion) his father in the process. In
addition he gets the message that one should put up with undeserved s**t instead of changing the situation and meeting one's needs in a
more satisfactory way.
The lessons that there are unchangeable crappy things that happen, that there are evil exploitative institutions and employers from whom
you must accept crap, all can be learned if they must be learned at all ....on the job so to speak.
I don't think I am being simply contrary. I didn't like the story. I think that the virtues of struggling against adversity,
persisting in the face of obstacles, and being able to set a goal and achieve it are much better served by other stories.
Eek. I just reread the story again and like it less and less. Peter could have bought a better clock radio for 75 cents at a yard
sale. Retch!
Upon second reading I think the father is an unmitigated bully who is using his kid for his own vicarious satisfaction.
" But perhaps Peter's greatest reward is the pride he has given his parents, who know that their son can accomplish whatever he sets
his mind to."
Therein lies the real confusion. Peter is doing this to please his parents who don't really believe that Peter can accomplish whatever
he sets his mind to unless they "teach" or in this case "make" him accomplish it.
John you seem right on the mark about many things but I think you should think this one out again.
"John O. Andersen" wrote:
> For those of you who are struggling to find ways to teach your children the--
> value of working hard, here's an inspirational story.
>
> http://www.theonion.com/onion3540/clock_radio.html
>
> John Andersen
> http://members.xoom.com/joandersen
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Name: Child Earns Clock Radio For 78 Hours Of Work.url
> Child Earns Clock Radio For 78 Hours Of Work.url Type: Internet Shortcut (application/x-unknown-content-type-InternetShortcut)
> Encoding: 7bit
best wishes
Joel
For a wonderful gift possibility and to support a great cause check out:
http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
Julie Sisemore
I have to agree! Although I highly value a work ethic, I also want my
children to have common sense and the ability of discriminating judgement.
If my kid really wanted that radio, and I felt he was going to be doing lots
of really tough work, the company would mostly profit, and the radio was bad
quality, maybe a brainstorming session on how best to acheive the goal of a
clock radio would have produced better results.
Afterall, isn't it *smart* to look at a garage sale for a good one cheap,
then to do what he did! That may be real life for some people, but I sure
like to think my family has higher standards for what we will take in real
life than that. I don't think being screamed at on your job is a necessity!
I would rather my kid have donated time to a service or charity organization
that what this kid did. Time and work efficiency are part of the work ethic
too.
*Julie Sisemore* mama bear to Caitlin 2/23/90 Zachary 3/8/92 Michael
5/31/93 Taylor 8/20/95 and Alyssa 7/7/98
children to have common sense and the ability of discriminating judgement.
If my kid really wanted that radio, and I felt he was going to be doing lots
of really tough work, the company would mostly profit, and the radio was bad
quality, maybe a brainstorming session on how best to acheive the goal of a
clock radio would have produced better results.
Afterall, isn't it *smart* to look at a garage sale for a good one cheap,
then to do what he did! That may be real life for some people, but I sure
like to think my family has higher standards for what we will take in real
life than that. I don't think being screamed at on your job is a necessity!
I would rather my kid have donated time to a service or charity organization
that what this kid did. Time and work efficiency are part of the work ethic
too.
*Julie Sisemore* mama bear to Caitlin 2/23/90 Zachary 3/8/92 Michael
5/31/93 Taylor 8/20/95 and Alyssa 7/7/98
John O. Andersen
Joel,
The whole thing is a spoof. The Onion is a satirical newspaper. My lead-in
was completely tongue-in-cheek.
Sorry,
John
The whole thing is a spoof. The Onion is a satirical newspaper. My lead-in
was completely tongue-in-cheek.
Sorry,
John
>think this one out again.
> John you seem right on the mark about many things but I think you should
>the
>
> "John O. Andersen" wrote:
>
> > For those of you who are struggling to find ways to teach your children
> > value of working hard, here's an inspirational story
Joel Hawthorne
You rat!
That is really funny! I am embarrassed but I am still laughing. Could of
fooled me. They really sound like families I have known. Sadly they sound like
my childhood family in many regards.
I am still laughing.
I am also greatly relieved that I don't have to continue trying to reconcile
other posts that you have written with this one which I can now candidly say
was some kind of psychotic break.
Apology accepted.
"John O. Andersen" wrote:
best wishes
Joel
For a wonderful gift possibility and to support a great cause check out:
http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
That is really funny! I am embarrassed but I am still laughing. Could of
fooled me. They really sound like families I have known. Sadly they sound like
my childhood family in many regards.
I am still laughing.
I am also greatly relieved that I don't have to continue trying to reconcile
other posts that you have written with this one which I can now candidly say
was some kind of psychotic break.
Apology accepted.
"John O. Andersen" wrote:
> From: "John O. Andersen" <andersen@...>--
>
> Joel,
>
> The whole thing is a spoof. The Onion is a satirical newspaper. My lead-in
> was completely tongue-in-cheek.
>
> Sorry,
>
> John
>
> >
> > John you seem right on the mark about many things but I think you should
> think this one out again.
> >
> >
> > "John O. Andersen" wrote:
> >
> > > For those of you who are struggling to find ways to teach your children
> the
> > > value of working hard, here's an inspirational story
>
> > Check it out!
> http://www.unschooling.com
best wishes
Joel
For a wonderful gift possibility and to support a great cause check out:
http://www.naturalchild.com/calendar_pictures.html
All children behave as well as they are treated. The Natural Child
Project http://naturalchild.com/home/
John O. Andersen
Joel,
like that. I see a fair amount of that attitude in yuppie families, but the
difference is that they don't make their children go door to door. They
just encourage them to get into highly remunerated yet ethically dubious
professions such as advertising.
John
>They really sound like families I have known. Sadly they sound likeYes, I know what you mean. There are more than a few families out there
> my childhood family in many regards.
like that. I see a fair amount of that attitude in yuppie families, but the
difference is that they don't make their children go door to door. They
just encourage them to get into highly remunerated yet ethically dubious
professions such as advertising.
John