When my granddaughter Lillie cried during swim lessons, her parents handle the situation really well. The explained, simply, that swim lessons were about safety Her mom and dad prioritize why it was important to lear water safety.
If Lillie did not learn t swim, she might fear water.
If Lillie did not learn t swim, she might miss the jo of swim parties.
Trips to the beach to se Aunt Julie’s ocean would b more fun if she knew how t swim.
Teaching/parenting/leading with common sense.
My mother once explaine the Ten Commandments i the same way. If a person follows those ten things, thei lives will go smoother. The represent structure and order not control. Mom told m the guidelines are the blueprint for living our best lives Adhering to them increase the chances we can manag life’s ebb and flow. (Mom wa right.)
Could we apply this method to classroom instruction Congressional legislation Corporate ethics?
I used to tell my student that unless we studied adjectives, they would be unable to tell their parents what kind of pizza they wanted, which place to order it from, and how many to order. Studying adverbs meant they could tell people where their game was, when it would be played, and how they performed. It wasn’t about making grammar a favorite subject, just one that had purpose.
If politicians worried more about what actually needs to get done in our country instead of being reelected or lining their pockets, the common-sense legislation we deserve might get passed.
Wouldn’t corporate boards have higher company productivity if they chose commonsense policies (such as parental leave) that improved employee morale, thus leading to more profit?
A receptive audience awaits when we can answer the question “why” with truth and good sense.
Snyder, Texas, native Sue Jane Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher whose thoughtprovoking commentary appears occasionally in several West texas newspapers, including The Texas Spur and The Caprock Courier.
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