Shuttin' Detroit Down

My daddy taught me in this country everyone's the same
You work hard for your dollar and you never pass the blame
When it don't go your way
- John Rich

At my school, the teachers often bemoan students' lack of investment. Their unwillingness to put forth any effort on assignments, and, all too often, convey the attitude that they should be given a decent grade anyway because, oh, I don't know, they're a wonderful person?

Well, pardon me if I don't shed a tear
They're selling make believe and we don't buy that here

We could analyze it and try to figure out if it relates back to parents who have been worrying about their child's self esteem since the day they were born, but often the parents are just as frustrated at their children's lack of investment as the teachers are. And what's frustrating is the schools - the teachers - are being held accountable for the test scores for kids who aren't invested. For kids who don't care. It's pretty darn difficult to make someone come to the table if they don't want to be there. If they don't see something in it for them. And why should they? They'll get what they need...eventually...from someone...

It's a very different mindset when you've worked 30 hour weeks to pay your own tuition. Those dollars are worth something you gave up, so you study your butt off because you're not willing to see those dollars go down the drain.

Now I see all these big shots whining on my evening news
About how they're losing billions and it's up to me and you
To come running to the rescue

A local columnist asked older readers, folks who had come of age during the Great Depression, to share "Life Lessons". He asked them to evaluate their lives now that they've been around the block a few times. One of the things he mentioned was that it was clear they had developed "work habits in an age of scarcity." A very interesting concept, that is...

How different my students would be if they had developed work habits in an age of scarcity...instead of having everything handed to them - which many of them have!

Well that old man's been working in that plant most all his life
Now his pension plan's been cut in half and he can't afford to die
And it's a crying shame, 'cause he ain't the one to blame
When I looked down to see his calloused hands
Well let me tell you friend it gets me fightin' mad

When I watch a sixth grader act non-chalant about not getting his homework turned in, I know he is not thinking about how it will impact his future because he has never seen his father unemployed for lack of finishing school....or his mother cry because she cannot pay for groceries. He has not seen how something as simple as doing Math problems in November affects the whole rest of his family a year and a half later in May.

'Cause in the real world they're shuttin Detroit down
While the boss man takes his bonus paid jets on out of town
DC's bailing out them bankers as the farmers auction ground
Yeah, while there living up on Wall Street in that New York City town
Here in the real world they're shuttin Detroit down

And so part of what we do as teachers is to help kids care. Help them see why the material we present is relevant and matters. To them, to the rest of society. We need them to be invested so we ALL don't shut down.