第1部分 (第3/8页)

oft；　he　is　now　the　richest　man　in　America；　and　he's　still　in　his　30s。　There　is　a　baseball　pitcher　who　makes　more　than　4　million　a　year　even　though　he　has　been　labeled　‘mentally　challenged。'　〃

There　was　a　long　silence　between　us。　It　was　dawning　on　me　that　I　was　giving　my　son　the　same　advice　my　parents　had　given　me。　The　world　around　us　has　changed；　but　the　advice　hasn't。

Getting　a　good　education　and　making　good　grades　no　longer　ensures　success；　and　nobody　seems　to　have　noticed；　except　our　children。

〃Mom；〃　he　continued；　〃I　don't　want　to　work　as　hard　as　you　and　dad　do。　You　make　a　lot　of　money；　and　we　live　in　a　huge　house　with　lots　of　toys。　If　I　follow　your　advice；　I'll　wind　up　like　you；　working　harder　and　harder　only　to　pay　more　taxes　and　wind　up　in　debt。　There　is　no　job　security　anymore；　I　know　all　about　downsizing　and　rightsizing。　I　also　know　that　college　graduates　today　earn　less　than　you　did　when　you　graduated。　Look　at　doctors。　They　don't　make　nearly　as　much　money　as　they　used　to。　I　know　I　can't　rely　on　Social　Security　or　pany　pensions　for　retirement。　I　need　new　answers。〃

He　was　right。　He　needed　new　answers；　and　so　did　I。　My　parents'　advice　may　have　worked　for　people　born　before　1945；　but　it　may　be　disastrous　for　those　of　us　born　into　a　rapidly　changing　world。　No　longer　can　I　simply　say　to　my　children；　〃Go　to　school；　get　good　grades；　and　look　for　a　safe；　secure　job。〃

I　knew　I　had　to　look　for　new　ways　to　guide　my　children's　education。