Day: December 6, 2011

Day 106 of 1000 (214.1 lbs.)

I have talked previously spoken about my buddy Stepan from Russia here and here.  Stepan has a family to whom he is very devoted.  He is very interested in assuring his two little girls (ages 1 and 3) get the best education possible.  His oldest daughter started Suzuki violin at age one with a teacher who is serious.  The teacher told Stepan that her students should NOT play anything other that what they given so they would get in the habit of playing ONLY in the most correct way.  Stepan liked that.

The three year old started preschool earlier this year.  As is their wont, the teachers at the preschool had them do some fingerpainting.  Stepan was not happy.

He said, “The only thing they do there is have fun.  She already knows how to use a brush.  Fingerpainting is NOT art.”

He has begun to notice that schools in the United States, public and private, are not so good.  From the time Stepan was very young, he went to school to learn.  There was no fun or self-fulfillment about it.  He believes that life is a lot more fulfulling if you accomplish something.  The only way to accomplish things is to work hard and not necessarily have fun.  He believes the only way his daughters can get a good education here in America is through “home education.”  I concur with the bulk of that.

It reminded me of when I asked him “How are you doing?” one morning when he came into work.

He said, “We never say that in Russia.”

I asked, “Why not?”

He said, “Because, in Russia, it is usually bad.”

“Well, what do you say, then?” I asked.

“We wish people health.”