Do your homework and work hard or you'll end up working in a bloody factory!

[mids2019]

This message was a lot in the 70s where I grew up.

Absolutely inappropriate now but is there a grain of truth in this approach (rephrased of course?)

Dh works in a factory and earns enough on a four day week to pay 40% tax on a portion of his earnings. He has a skilled job that comes under the umbrella of engineering, he earns an honesty living and enough to allow me to be a SAHP. And no we don’t claim universal credit as not entitled and don’t receive full child benefit due to the £60,000 cap. But you know he must be a loser working in a factory.

We are all so different. For me this phrase or concept worked when I was growing up but also filled me with anxiety. The fear of homelessness etc kicked in. For my brother who was far more confident he needed to be told about the harsh realities of life or he would just take the mickey. I like the ‘education gives you choices’. I think it’s important we reach our full potentials and do what makes us happy. Education is an important key but as with everything it is what you make of it.

The wording is horrible, looking down on others is not a trait that I would want to pass onto my child. I would use wording such as ‘achieving decent grades in your exams will give you options in life’. Any child with half a brain cell can work out that shit grades are more likely to equally lower salary / more ‘menial’ job opportunities.

My own father used to say, “if you don’t knuckle down, you’ll end up working at Tesco” 🙄