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What I Would Tell Today’s Child by Angie T.
I would tell today's child and all those who have influence over them the importance of learning math. This includes parents, teachers and friends.
I would engage the child in making up shopping lists and comparison shopping, checking the computations on shopping bills including those received at restaurants. They would have play stores using play and/or real money.
I would not allow them to use these hand held calculators. I recall stopping at a family owned grocery store where all members of the family worked. This included a ten year old girl. I was in a rush. I gave her $1.50 for two bottles of juice. She said, "Just a minute." She punched in the prices and came up with $3.00. I showed her with pen an paper that .75 plus .75 is $1.50. Today's child must have some knowledge of numbers. Since .75 is close to $1.00, there is no way it could be $3.00.
Teach them the importance of balance in all areas of life including use of money. Show them how to budget; how not to eat, drink, and shop excusably. This includes gambling. Some of the street people have been victims of excessive living.
Just because a child wants a career that does not require math, they may feel that they don't need to study math. This is an error. Maybe the children could visit a mission that houses the homeless or have someone from the mission come to school and talk with students. A combination of knowledge and fear must be instilled in the children.
Many famous people including Elvis Presley, did not receive all the pay and royalties he was entitled to because of mismanagement of Colonel Parker. Muhammad Ali, the boxer, did not receive his fair share of his winning bouts. His championship ring was found in a pawn shop. He was found on skid row. It was not until he married his second wife who had a degree in finance and took over as manager, that he received his fair share.
In the glamor years of Hollywood, stars such as Lana Turner and Rita Haywood could no longer get parts due to their age. Many were found to be financially destitute and had to be helped by their friends. People founded the Senior Motion Picture and Television Fund for them on 48 acres of land in Woodland, California. It is believed to be still in existence.
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