This morning I read a George Will review (courtesy of Townhall's daily "Opinion Alert" email) of "American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and Nation's Drive to End Welfare", by Jason DeParle. The book looks at what's happened since the Welfare Reform efforts of the '90's. The answer: Lots of things, and nothing, at the same time. Yes, the number of people on welfare dropped dramatically, and those people found jobs instead, but at the same time, there lives didn't necessarily change in drastic ways, as many hoped and expected.
Read the review to see what that means in the life of one Milwaukee woman in particular. My aunt, who taught in Milwaukee Public Schools for her whole career, had plenty of first-hand experience with the disorganized lives of many families living in the central city. Those poor kids started school five years behind the other kids, because their lives were in such chaos. Some never saw their fathers, or perhaps didn't even know who they were. Some were never read to, talked to, taught their colors or shapes or, in some cases, even their first and last names. And then teachers are expected to get those kids up to speed by third grade.
Back to George Will's review; here's an interesting line:
What can help organize lives -- at least those that are organizable -- is work. The requirements of work -- mundane matters such as punctuality, politeness and hygiene -- are essential to the culture of freedom.As a mom, I can use that line with my kids. It sure makes "say please" and "clean up your room" sound much more important, doesn't it? "Hey kids, it's not just what I want, it's what the culture of freedom needs!"
1 comment:
This is a good review of what looks like quite an interesting book. The parallel reaction to social cues to get on welfare in the 1960's and off in the 1990's is encouraging and telling. The young, unmarried child-bearing cycle continues because it took one or two generations to start and I think it'll take at least the same to cease. That issue is also tougher to turn around because the popular culture river flows in the opposite direction.
Work obviously often supplies purpose and pride in self accomplishment, even if it's not a dream job. When I was growing up I had jobs in delivery, on shipping docks, in factories and as a clerk and a cashier. And from these I learned the lessons listed in this article as well as perseverance, respect, resourcefulness, and duty. It gave purpose and accomplishment and taught the fundamental lesson about the difference between money given and money earned. From this one can come to understand pride of ownership, private property, achievement, and charity. Thus, I agree that the work lessons are important to the culture of freedom.
These types of life lessons are only one piece of the puzzle. There are numerous accounts in American history of frontier families, materially poor, with many children, loading up a covered wagon, making their living off the land and gutting it out against pests, floods, and storms. They certainly embraced work and prevailed against material challenges, but the other difference then was the underlying understanding of morality and marriage. Raising children within the permanence of the two parent family.
The traditional family allows freedoms beyond double income. It allows the possibility of one or both parents working part-time, or one staying home full time. This in turn delivers a greater opportunity for a home instead of just a house and more of a chance for parental influence on the children so that they may learn not just what's in the books, but what's in the heart.
TJS
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