How well do you know your child’s teacher(s)? By “know” I mean meeting and engaging him/her in conversation about what s/he thinks education for success in life is about, and how to go about giving it.
I share excerpts from a conversation (online chat) with my kids’ lesson teacher, which reveals why connecting with your child’s teacher(s) in the above manner may be necessary.
If you don’t do it now, you may have to contend, in future, with mis-educated adult kids, failing in life!
==Conversation Begins===
Lesson Teacher: “ Sir, the kids are fond of selling iron rods and I don’t know why.
Me: “What is the problem: Are they doing it during lesson periods?”
Lesson Teacher: “It’s distracting their focus at home and school.”
Me: “I don’t understand. Are they doing it when they are supposed to be in lesson with you…or when they are supposed to be attending classes in school? Or are they failing to do assignments given them during school or lesson periods. Let me know…”
Lesson Teacher: “Ok I will let you know.”
Me: “What did you observe that made you say what you did? I have a reason for asking…Did their mother complain to you?”
Lesson Teacher: “I realised they look for iron rods on street and I’m not comfortable with it.”
Me: “Well, from a SAFETY and SECURITY point of view (with all the kidnapping going on in Nigeria), I do see how it may not be OK. However, I can tell you that I have STRONGLY encouraged them to do what you see them doing, since they told me about it.
But I have always told them to avoid straying away from the neighbourhood, and to ALWAYS move together. This, I’m sure applies mainly to <12 year old’s name> and <10 year old’s name>.”
Lesson Teacher: “Ok sir…You got it exactly.”
Lesson Teacher: “I will call them tonight to find out how they’ve been going about it, and remind them of the need to be careful. Other than that, I am determined to help my kids develop their entrepreneurial instincts and talents.
Indeed, before they clock 15 years, I aim to ensure EACH of them has a micro business s/he is running on the side. Seriously. That’s what our schools are NOT teaching us. And that’s why so many of us have our “certificates”, but can only look for jobs.
We don’t know how to create products and services we can sell if NO jobs are available. I don’t want my kids to end up like that.
Think about the matter you and I are discussing regarding my seeking audience with Mr. <name of my client> about your business idea.
It’s because you’re trying to do something for yourself, since jobs you got are not giving the JOY and satisfaction you want.
I’m trying to kill 2 birds with one stone for my kids.
They learn school work, but they also learn to be entrepreneurial in their thinking and actions. And they learn to value and respect money – by EARNING it, instead of asking their parents all the time, to give them money. See?”
Lesson Teacher: “I understand…But they need proper orientation”
Me: “I don’t understand? Proper orientation…please explain?”
Lesson Teacher: “I mean they should know the value of education alongside the entrepreneur upgrading.”
Me: “I’m glad you expressed this opinion. It’s now obvious you have yet to understand certain IMPORTANT things my friend.
Education must NEVER be considered separate from ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING. The two go together.
My advice to you is this: Google “Sir Ken Robinson” and watch one or more of his videos (e.g. Schools Kill Creativity). There are articles I have written, and others (like Seth Godin, Robert Kiyosaki etc), which explain why what we learn in our schools today is mostly useless to us in life.
Ask yourself: Why are you talking to me about starting a business, and having such a hard time doing so? I would have thought the EDUCATION you got in school would have prepared you for that???
But apparently it did not!
Does that not tell you something is wrong with the education we get? What is education…should it not prepare one to succeed in the real world?
You have a lot to learn. And the first step will be to understand that you have been wrongly oriented about what education really means.
Here’s my advice. Start reading Robert Kiyosaki’s works online. I owned a copy of his book:
http://www.amazon.com/Want-Rich-Happy-Dont-School/dp/0944031595
“If You Want to Be Rich & Happy Don’t Go to School: Ensuring Lifetime Security for Yourself and Your Children.”
It was his first best seller if I recall correctly.
That man is a multi-millionaire. He was an OLODO*in school, while his father was a top educationist in USA!
[NB*: “Olodo” = “Yoruba” word for “dismal performer”]
Robert kept embarrassing the father by doing poorly in school. But today he’s super rich. His father was (often) broke, as a teacher!”
Lesson Teacher: “I understand everything and will Google what you said now.”
Me: This website (linked below) offers a review of Robert Kiyosaki’s book that I just mentioned above. Since you’re unlikely to be able to get the book to read without buying it, I suggest you read the review at http://charlesholmes.net/2013/05/if-you-want-to-be-rich-and-happy-dont-go-to-school-by-robert-kiyosaki/
I am telling you all this because I have SUFFERED greatly for being too focussed on school success and ending up unprepared to succeed in the real world, outside a salary job.
There are fewer and fewer jobs out there today, for people finishing from school. Most people will have to start a small business of their own, no matter how well they perform in school.
And it is those who already know how to find what people will pay them GOOD MONEY for, that will succeed the best.
That’s what my kids are learning.
I challenged them to find a way to make money for themselves. One day they told me they discovered Mallams would pay them for iron** they are able to find.
[NB**: “Iron” here refers to scrap made of iron e.g damaged devices, mechanical parts from cars, and other machines etc]
I encouraged them to continue.
On a certain occasion, I was around when a Mallam came to buy, and I joined them in negotiating a better selling price.
My advice to you: read, and think about what I’ve said.
It’s the key to your success in the new venture you say you wish to start. I have to go offline now on my laptop. Will be on my Blackberry, if you still wish to continue.
(Few minutes later, his next message arrives via my Blackberry app interface)
Lesson Teacher: “I really need you by my side to continue the chat and learn more from you. I am appreciating all (the) fact(s) you are telling me.”
Me: Click the links to the websites I posted above, and READ the information there. It is the key to your mental emancipation or freedom. You need that to truly succeed outside paid employment.
==Conversation Ends===
Final Words: Your Kid’s Teacher May Need YOUR Help…to Teach YOUR Child Better!
NB: I’m assuming here that YOU do not yourself need re-orientation. Otherwise, start with yourself!
This young man, in my estimation, is in his mid to late 30s.
Earlier in January, he came to me saying he was not happy with his employment in the tutoring agency handling my kids’ home coaching.
According to him, the pay was poor, despite the heavy workload.
So he wanted to know how he could pursue his dream of starting his own business.
But he was not sure what he could do to make money.
He just knew he did not want to continue working for an employer, because he felt he would earn better if self-employed.
I told him that since he’s not married and has no dependants, then he’s perfectly positioned to achieve his goal.
That’s a much better way to start. I had the opposite experience – VERY VERY TOUGH!
I explained that he just needs to identify the right business to start, and work hard.
With the exchange we’ve now had above, I’m hopeful the first obstacle to his succeeding with his plans has been (or is in the process of being) removed.
By this I refer to the “employee” mentality or orientation, that conventional schools instil in people.
It makes them think no other way exists for succeeding in life, except to “go to school, study hard, get good grades, and get a good job”.
The realities in today’s world make it obvious jobs are no longer there. Even not-so-good ones!
And THAT is the dilemma that’s facing many young people today.
When they finish school, and discover this truth, they are left confused about what to do next.
If you fail to guide your kids to develop their entrepreneurial instincts AHEAD of time, you may end up doing extra parenting for them when they should already be independent of you.
And it may NOT be a pleasant experience.
I wish you well as you prepare your children with the right educational experiences.
Experiences which equip them with the ability to succeed, regardless of whether they are in paid employment, or out of it.
That – in my considered opinion – is what makes successful parenting.
And you may need to check and ensure your kid’s teacher(s) are on the same wavelength with you, if you want to succeed!