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Show School ( and Vi Home c i by Dr. Daryl J. McCarty " Executive Secretary Utah Education Association .si Wbt Lucky is the city kid who can spend a month each summer with a cousin in Escalante. Or Smithfield. Or Roosevelt. There's a kind of cumpul-sion cumpul-sion for work in the rural community that a Salt Lake City youngster might never experience. If the hay doesn't get cut in July, the cows don't eat in January. So rural kids grow wiry hoisting 70-pound bales of cattle food. Let's face it: Not many Americans live "in the country" coun-try" anymore. One observer indicated that 72 per cent of the nation is urbanized. If that figure holds true for out state, it means three-fourths of all Utahns might never thin beets, build barns or rope SiCClS. Maybe that's why we hear so many moans about the "goof-off mentalily"-the erosion ero-sion of appreciation for the work ethic. School is work. Of course, school work is not always so demanding as tough physical labor. But the classroom does demand effort. If a youngster is not in' the habit of working at home or on a job. it might affect his or her attitude about school work. A wholesome attitude toward to-ward work is something we all have to strive for. By "we all," I mean teachers, parents and especially the youngsters. How can young people learn to work if we have school and government regulations that prevent ihem from punching a time clock? Those regulations are designed de-signed to protect your child. And they don't absolutely prohibit children from working. work-ing. There are many exceptions, excep-tions, and your child's school counselor can discuss these with you. v Meanwhile, parents can do a lot to help their sons and daughters develop respect for excellence in doing tasks around the home. But it takes work. Sometimes it means you'll have to leave that newspaper or TV set to show little Fred or Susie how to edge the lawn or wash those windows. Do this, and it may help your child more than you can |