How Would You Create Responsible People?
There is an often cited list that tells parents what NOT to do to create selish and irresponsible people while raising their children. Print out a copy of the list and give it to each student. Discuss the list with your students. Do they agree or disagree with each of the points? Can they thing of other items they might add? After the discussion, have the students rewrite each item as an alternative positive staement. Two examples are shared below. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow to believe the world owes him a living. Provide your child with the essenential needs like food, water, and shelter. Primarily provide them with supportive and unconditional love. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute. It will also encourage him to pick up "cuter" phrases that will blow off the top of your head later. Model appropriate speech. Do not swear. Don't argue argue with your spouse in front of your child. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is 21 and then let him "decide for himself." Avoid use of the word "wrong". It may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted. Pick up everything he leaves lying around - books, shoes, clothes. Do everything for him so that he will be expecting it. Let him read any printed matter he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them? Satisfy his every craving for food, drink, and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, "I never could do anything with him." Prepare for a life of grief. You will be likely to have it.
