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Originally Posted by dmacc
Though I agree with much of what you said, I don't think it translates to my point of a lack of parenting. Especially since my partner teaches in Tuxedo. It's not a matter of social class. The wealthy sometimes have a natural disposition to and sense of entitlement and believe others should be responsible. Parents seem to have as a whole become willing to put the responsibility of raising their child on the education system. That is a huge reason for much of the waste in the education system. Parents need to be responsible for ensuring their child is ready to learn and behave in a proper manner, if not accept the idea that their child will be left behind instead of catered to.
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Maybe that could have been clearer from me.
While I think as a whole, we've developed a generation that is easily distracted and demands gratification immediately, which an iPad can deliver much faster for a 3rd grader than a persistent focus on education and respect, eventually yielding a good career and life path after university is paid off, haha. We've made it harder on parents, but that's no excuse. Many more displace these responsibilities onto schools where, due to taxes and teachers paid, it obviously will just get done (sarcasm).
I grew up not with wealthy, but with poor to - upper/middle class kids. Unfortunately, to no fault of their own, a lot of the poorer kids performed worse in school. That's where the home-based perspective on futility can be damaging. If we look at academic performance across income classes, while our entire society today is more subject to the problem we're discussing, I think the lower income children still struggle more with academics. I think it partially is down to recognition of authority for teachers and recognizing importance rather than futility in education. This may be why teachers generally seek positions in better neighbourhoods, leaving some districts with worse instruction. I don't know how it is in Canada with that, but it is like that in the states somewhat.
I don't deny that the rich don't have asshole kids that disrupt everything, however. there are more factors than merely attention and respect that factor into their sometimes eventual success.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tacheguy
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"I felt like a lot of the less fortunate people in Winnipeg were getting their shit together"
this statement indicates a level of condescension and ignorance that is, frankly, jaw-dropping. maybe if you had been in a smaller class..
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The fact that you only found offense in something like that is telling.
I was saying something positive. People who had less, and came from less, whether theirs or someone else's doing, appeared to be organizing and mobilizing their lives with new momentum. Heaven forbid that I noticed
I was giving credit. Ironically, you took that credit away from them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ywgwalk
So instead we should just say it's up to themselves and let them assume all responsibility for the situation they've been given? Leaving all of us with a less productive Winnipeg in 30 years than we could have otherwise if we were all to take responsibility?
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Yikes, this is not a binary issue. There are a lot of zeros in between dirt poor and rich, and similarly there are difference degrees of responsibility, fault/credit, etc.
It's not everyone's fault that there are poor people, nor are all poor people entirely at fault for their circumstances at all. There are very many people who are in fact crippled by circumstances out of their own control, but very many who made it worse for themselves all on their own.
While things CAN be done to assist people mobilize out of struggle and into sustainable independence and some degree of success, it's just that... assistance. It's never the primary mover.
There is "responsibility" for the circumstances that unfortunate people face, moreso fault. The responsibility, with assistance or without, to change one's circumstances only ever lies with the individual themselves. Not because this is fair, but it's the only way to ensure a change. Assistance can only assist that responsibility. Who is at fault and who can bring upon the biggest change?
Those are different kinds of responsibilities. The latter answer is the individual.