Quote Originally Posted by Crankin View Post
ShootingStar, I think the main thing with the thought that "poor kids" are deprived is that they are educationally deprived, or not encouraged to do well in school, for a variety of reasons. That certainly wasn't the case for you, as it was a core value in your family. And, I guess it could be debated that lack of exposure to art, music, travel makes you deprived. I had exposure to art as a kid, but music? Forget it. My dad played a lot of jazz at home, but that was it. No one played an instrument and no one traveled. My family even made fun of those who traveled . It took me a long time to get over that one. My family had the $ to do all of these things, but it just wasn't imporant to them. I didn't feel deprived, though, even though everyone else took music lessons and traveled.
I appreciate your perspective as an experienced teacher for several decades.
It's just irritating that there is still the tendency to equate money (lots of it/enough of it) with becoming a "better" person. Tell that to a priest who has taken a vow of poverty.

Yes, not only parents valued education as a mechanism, providing tools, to help oneself and to also help others better..but it does run through our entire extended family, cousins, children of cousins, etc. I know my sisters are working patiently with their spouses to pass on this value together to their children also.