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You can't tell parents to teach children the value of work…

“You can't tell parents to teach children the value of work when we don't have jobs and the jobs we have don't pay a decent wage. You can't tell children to achieve and then let them go to broken-down schools with teachers who don't care. We need a consistency of values in our public, corporate…” quote by Marian Wright Edelman
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“You can't tell parents to teach children the value of work when we don't have jobs and the jobs we have don't pay a decent wage. You can't tell children to achieve and then let them go to broken-down schools with teachers who don't care. We need a consistency of values in our public, corporate, and private lives.”

Marian Wright Edelman

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Society cannot demand work ethic from children while failing to provide decent jobs or quality schools.

In simple terms: Kids need good jobs and schools to learn value of work.

Key Takeaway

Address systemic inequality in labor and education.

Themes

justice education economy values policy

Mood

urgent hopeful critical

Type

activist policy inspirational

When to use this quote

  • school reform
  • job creation
  • community programs
  • family support

Key Concepts

social equity labor economics public policy

Questions to Reflect On

  • What policies can ensure fair wages?
  • How can schools become more caring?
A Different Perspective

Changing values alone won’t fix structural problems.

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