The Case Against Chores

Narrative Argument About Education

The Case Against Chores

Janet Bloomfield

English 101, Spring 2009, C02-DLP

Ms. Lisa Cone

March 15, 2009

Janet Bloomfield

Lisa Cone

English 101

March 15, 2009

The Case Against Chores

I believe the author considers the reasons that she has gleaned from other parents concerning chores are just excuses for a legalized "child-labor scheme", even when the parent says the purpose is for "developing good work habits" (Jane Smiley, 1995, p.273). I am disturbed by Ms. Smiley's view. First of all, my perception of her is that she was a spoiled child having her mother, then grandmother, as well as a housekeeper picking up after her. I have to wonder if she in turn does the same for her children. Does she also have a housekeeper? If not, how did she learn to take care of things? Is her husband doing the housework and the laundry or is she still leaving rooms a mess and finding them once again miraculously neat when she returns?

I was raised to believe that it is right for every member of the household to have a productive role with physical responsibilities of the family household, and that one role was no more important than another. I think that obedience and sacrifices made depends on the success or failure of the well being of the individuals or the family structure as a whole. By starting at a young age, this helps in teaching how to care for one another, which can be a benefit to the older members in their later years.

I disagree with the author's suggestion that the extent of a parent's love for their child is based on the child's physical contributions to the household. Everyone has their own interests and if you find something that the child enjoys doing over something else, then I believe that should be their responsibility. Not every child may have the ability to physically contribute to the household responsibilities in the same ways as another child for various reasons. But I would not see this hindering the capabilities of a parent from loving one child more than another.

Most of us have had to do something on a regular basis that we simply did not want to do. This is generally true of anyone who has been employed for any amount of time. Growing up, chores were expected of us and this was true of every other family with children in our community. Everyone was assigned their own task. I remember being six years old and standing on a chair to wash dishes and sweeping the floors with a broom that was three times my height. Just the memory of this brings a smile to my face, and warmth to my heart. I do not think of these responsibilities in a negative way because they have helped make me who I am today. Of course, I did not enjoy these chores every time I had to do them and often times I would complain, but was still responsible for getting them done, and that was clear. It taught me to appreciate the things that I have as well as the importance of taking care of them. I admit that this kind of expectation from my mother