[TheForge] Re: Femininity, clothing, and dealing with heat- was Re: [TheForge] Watch Rob kill me

[Demon Buddha]

Jeff Harding wrote:

>    Ok... spare me the defense of the degree, I know it's not the
> education that causes it.  Starting about 30-40 years ago, parents
> thought the kids needed to have their way paid through college, so
> they did, even though they fought their own way up.  Putting your kid
> through college became like having an in ground pool or a third car.
> Created a group of people with their hands out and an expectation of
> privilege.  These are now the people running every company in the
> world.  YES....there will be a few exceptions.

	I have no problem with putting a child through college.
	Such decisions depend on the child in question.  Some need
	to concentrate solely on their studies.  Some outhg to go
	get a job.  Others don't need to go to college and ought
	not be forced into it.  Nigel Tudor is a prime example of
	the latter.  I took a class with him at Touchstone.  17
	years old, had a full balcksmiths shop, did very nice work
	and knew that blacksmithing was all he wanted to do with
	his professional life, and his parents were way cool with
	it.  I salute them for allowing their son to be what he
	wanted, for respecting his resolve, rather than trying to
	force him into a mild that he did not fit.

	If my "daughter" comes to live with me, she will be put
	through college if she wants to go, which she WILL want or
	face immediate death.  If she wants to work, she may, but
	if not I will not require it of her.  She is a gifted
	child but has problems with learning because French was her
	first language (even though she is an American) and by
	the time she came here, she was "behind".  I'm trying to
	get her use of "our" language up there, and it's getting
	better, but given that particular impediment, I would
	rather she concentrate on her studies than force her to
	take a job for the sake of having her come up the old
	fashioned way.  Nothing wrong with working, either, but
	sometimes other choices must be made.