THIS IS NOT A SCOLDING... BUT I DO NOT WANT TO PASS UP A LEARNING MOMENT...meant for u two especially -- my darling children

THIS IS AS MUCH FOR MY KIDS!!! AS IT IS FOR MY STUDENTS...

message to my children
since all you do is roll your eyes and grunt when I advise you, I have taken to the internet to air my views...i mean you all do it without compunction...so as the cliche goes - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em...

DISCLAIMER: this is a personal opinion and is meant to open your eyes to the goodness in theis world - so that you are not so clouded by cynicism...

I GAVE BOTH MY CLASSES AN ASSIGNMENT - TO COMPLETE A POWERPOINT OF AN ESSAY PLAN WITH REFERENCES TO ARTICLES AND VIDEO CLIPS...EXACTLY WHAT I DO FOR THEM WHEN I GO THROUGH AN ESSAY WITH THEM

ONE STUDENT ASKS ME - SO, ARE YOU GOING TO USE THIS IN TWO YEARS TIME FOR YOUR STUDENTS...????

I WAS TAKEN ABACK BECAUSE 1 NO ONE HAS ASKED ME THIS BEFORE
2 THE THOUGHT NEVER EVEN OCCURRED TO ME.....

MY RETORT WAS OF COURSE CLEAR AND SIMPLE....

1 THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION IS THAT YOUR WORK IS SO GOOD THAT I WILL USE IT...WHICH IF IT IS TRUE -IS WONDERFUL... BUT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT IS NOT....AT LEAST NOT YET.

2 IT REALLY IS AN INSULT TO MY INTELLIGENCE AND TO MY DLLIGENCE...I TAKE PRIDE IN MY WORK..I HAVE EXACTING STANDARDS...I DO MY OWN RESEARCH AND I CHANGE MY LESSONS AND PLANS EVERY YEAR TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF MY STUDENTS...

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT MYSELF...MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS IS WRITTEN WITH GREAT CONCERN ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE AND RESPONSE TO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING...

1 WHEN YOU ARE GIVEN A TASK, AND THINK THAT IT IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TEACHER, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB. SUCH CYNICISM IS UNWARRANTED AND UNHEALTHY.

2 IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE YOUR BRAIN BEFORE YOU SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF...WE COME FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS...I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, BUT WE HAVE... IF IT IS IN YOUR NATURE TO SUSPECT THAT PEOPLE DO THINGS WITH AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE, THEN THAT IS SAD...

BECAUSE IT IS JUST GOING TO CLOUD YOUR MIND AND NOT ALLOW FOR THE KIND OF PROGRESS THAT EDUCATION IS SUPPOSED TO BRING ABOUT

THE ESSAY PLAN EXERCISE IS A VERY USEFUL ONE - IT HELPS YOU DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND ORGANISE YOUR IDEAS. THIS WILL CERTAINLY BE A USEFUL WAY TO STUDY IN THE UNIVERSITY... YOU NEED TO HAVE THE MATURITY AND WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU ARE TAUGHT HELPS; BUT WHAT YOU DO, HELPS YOU A LOT MORE!

SO THIS IS MY TEACHING POINT: A GENERATION OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION, SPEAKING YOUR MIND (WITHOUT THINKING) AND CYNICISM IS GOING TO BREED UNHAPPINESS

I HOPE YOU HEED MY WARNING; I ONLY HAVE TO BE WITH YOU FOR ONE YEAR. YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH YOURSELVES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIVES...SO BE KIND TO YOURSELF AND TO THOSE AROUND YOU



(AND SON, IF THE TEACHER SAYS SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE OR SAID TO BRING ON THAT REACTION....THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GROW AS A PERSON)