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In the past, we were concerned about 'life's illiterates', the folks who could function in life, but were unable to read or write. While that problem isn't completely solved, we've certainly come a long ways; only to have a new problem rear it's ugly head. 'Life's Incompetents' meaning folks who can function in the world or reading and writing but don't know that you have to boil the potatoes before you mash them. Folks who throw away clothes if the clothes turn up missing a button because they were never taught to sew on a button. People who take all their clothes to the dry cleaners because they were never taught and can't figure how to operate a clothes washer (and dryer).
More than 60% knew next to nothing about money management, but wanted to learn. Over 50% of them showed an interest in learning things like cooking, sewing, consumer rights and parenting.
This study was done in Britian, but folks, it's not terribly different over here (witness the brats in Florida who's parental units camped on the front lawn - the brats had almost zero idea how to clean clothes or cook food). Some of this I quanified as 'common sense', I guess because it's common sense (to me) that you'd better know how to do some of this stuff or getting along in the world will be difficult. To me, it's another example of how common sense isn't being passed along.
Funny, as I think back on it, these were taught to me by my parents who gave me duties, taught me how to do the chore and expected me to do it. I was corrected, and I learned, isn't that the way most of us learned? Going back to the example of the brats in Florida, obviously momma did everything for the brats because they were unable to do for themselves. Is that what is going on here too folks?
Thoughts and opinions?
More Later
Monday, January 10, 2005
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5 comments:
That's how I was taught. Chorse, responsibilities, even including shopping for groceries, etc when i was old enough. I think there was still a small failing as my parents tended to give chores on the bases of gender lines. my brothers had to learn to wash clothes the hard way and I had to insist on my turn at the lawn mower to know how to start it.
But chores and allowance were the introduction to work, how to and getting paid/rewarded for ability.
I am aghast at the amount of people that are functionally "dysfunctional"... To be honest, My beginnings were a bit different than most, so I had to add a can of Miracle Gro to my wheaties so I could be a grownup too soon. However, after a conversation with "she who must be obeyed" - We both came to the conclusion that many folks are being coddled into non-existance. More and more people are going through lives relying on disposible dinners, and instant coffee, microwaves, etc. It seems that even boiling water takes a degree of experience that these folks don't seem to have... (What's a pan dude???) If it doesn't come pre-packaged for your convenience, or sterilized for your protection, or precooked for your instant use, complete with emergency heating element with pictures for instructions (read MRE's guys) they are not functional. Why spend 10 or 20 bucks for a zippo that will last the rest of your life, just add flints and fluid (and in a pinch gasoline will do but I didn't tell you that) when you can buy a 79 cent bic style lighter and then toss it?
Why repair a car when you can replace it for much more? Hell why not trade your 40 year old wife in for two twenties? Isn't that what we are working up to?
Sigh - I need an asprin.
Until our next....
All part of the sad stat we seem to be moving towards - disposable, convenience, inconsiderate, irresponsible.
/TJ
NIF
See, I didn't even think about all of this growing up. Like you (Michael), I was taught how to do chores and then expected to do them. As I got older, I was taught to do my own laundry, how to sew, how to cook, and even (gasp) how to wash dishes (and clothes for that matter) WITHOUT a dishwasher (or clothes washer/dryer).
What can I say but WOW - I got this email from a gal who blogger won't allow to post/I won't allow to post anonymously so she sent me an email. I respect her honesty too much to put up her name but here is her email to me.
"I am, sadly, one of those incompetents that you speak of. Well, I used
to be. When I got to college, I had no idea how to do laundry or cook.
My roomies and I got a microwave and bought a lot of clothes that
first quarter and we did just fine. On holiday break, my horrified
mother taught me about laundry and how to do some basic things in the
kitchen (boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, that sort of thing). I've read
enough books to know the basics of cooking and can follow along with
any recipe I'm given, but, if asked to make "something with chicken",
I'd have to pull out a cookbook because it just isn't something I know
right off the bat.
If I am ever blessed with children, you can bet I'm going to teach
them about laundry and ironing, vacuuming and dusting, and send them
to cooking classes when they are old enough to be around a hot stove.
I don't want anyone else ever feeling the way that I do.
Thanks for the great read,"
'Nuff said folks.
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