SOME
"HARRISON SYSTEM"
FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
(Quoted from Harrison's "Successful Children"
Book):
Q.1. By allowing kids is to believe
that wrongdoing may be rectified through the payment of money, isn't the
conscience building process damaged? There should be true remorse rather
than remorse only in terms of a monetary loss? For example, if the fine for
rudeness is $25, wouldn't this put a price of $25 on being rude? Moreover,
suppose the person is wealthy and doesn't mind the cost?
A.1. The system child knows he can't buy
off his conscience with money any more than a conscientious adult can in
real life. One mustn't confuse conscience building with rightful reparations
and penalties. The system offers both almost effortlessly while child management
builds neither without strenuous exertions on the part of parents. No parent
can beat or lecture a conscience into his child. The youngster must build
it all on his own by thinking for himself.
In regard to the last question, no one is ever that wealthy. If the cost
is high enough, even the wealthy can become paupers.
Q.2. Won't using money or scorekeepers to
pay for household tasks eventually take the place of human expressions of
warmth, approval, and love? Shouldn't children be taught to value achievement
for its own sake? Even such a prestigious authority as Dr. Lee Salk feels
that kids shouldn't be offered material rewards in place of parental love
and approval. Most authorities feel the same way, so how can you justify
payments from parents for grades, household tasks, and so forth?
A.2. Monetary payments and human warmth,
approval, and love can and do exist side-by-side inside the system, as they
do in life, without any dependency upon each other. Moreover, System children
understand the difference and value achievement for its own sake without
any monetary payment. One can expect almost anything he wants as long as
he doesn't expect to receive it - unless a tangible substitute, such as a
valuable System scorekeeper, is used to assure its collection. So if you
want to rely exclusively on expecting a performance as recommended by authorities
who aren't in your bloody shoes, this is strictly your business. But watch
out for the random results, and don't expect children to become self-reliant,
for only a valuable scorekeeper and the rule of law can assure that. Also,
teaching an authentic work ethic without a valuable scorekeeper is indeed
difficult.
Q.3. Is it possible that System children
might get the idea that the family is only an employer and the kids themselves
only employees, in the absence of the usual parental approval and affection?
A.3. NO! It's just the opposite. All System
kids realize that they are both an employer (as a Council Member) and an
employee. Furthermore, there is no absence of parental love, approval and
affection in the System home - however, it's not an absolute necessity as
it is in a child-management home.
Q.4. Can real money be used as the valuable
scorekeeper?
A.4. Yes! But there is no need. Use "Points"
written in a loose-leaf notebook which are made valuable by trading them
for real money allowances and many other items motivational to the child
involved.
Q.5. As time goes by, don't the rewards have
to be gradually raised to get achievement?
A.5. No! As long as you use the Harrison
system never forget that is a program for self-reliance learning and not
child management. Thus, children are learning to control themselves and will
reach only for the rewards appropriate and desirable for them in competition
with the rest of their household. If the council, not just the parents, feel
the budgeted reward is too high or too low it can be changed so that it becomes
motivational. Some tasks are a duty without a reward. Ask yourself how the
management household can teach the difference when everything in it is a
duty without a tangible reward (except for a smile or a pat on the head).
What is created with the system is a democratic society inside the household,
where each child becomes a participant rather than just a member. Such a
youngster understands and performs his duty, expects others to do the same,
demands no more and no less than his just due, and knows he has as much control
over himself as he is capable of exercising. Realizing that the council won't
unjustifiably raise rewards, it never becomes an issue or a problem. Either
the child reaches for a budgeted reward or he doesn't. It's his choice.
Q.6. Doesn't the power of the System scorekeeper
create the false impression in young minds that money is all important instead
of just a useful tool?
A.6. Not when the Council doesn't encourage
it. But ask yourself if you would rather use child-management methods, where
parents are likely to create the impression that it's only certain people
who are important in life? This is the basis for creating a closed society.
Q.7. Does the System really offer an equal
marriage partnership or does one adult usually dominate Council meetings?
A.7. The only way any one person dominates
a Harrison-System Council meeting, at least continuously, is by demonstrating
a superior wisdom in decision-making. Even here the opportunity for replacement
is wide open to all with better knowledge and more experience. No System
household member would want to be governed in any other way.
Q.8. If both parents work, shouldn't both
pay equally into the financial budget?
A.8. This is a personal decision for each
wife and husband.
Q.9. What happens to excess real-money earned
(over the budget for the household) and retained by the wife, husband, or
child?
A.9. Again this is personal to the wife,
husband, or child. They do with it as they please. After all, they earned
it and not the household.
Q.10. When system kids learn the value of
the work ethic so early, doesn't this effectively rob them of a childhood?
After all, kids should be allowed to be kids. They are forced to be adults
most of their life.
A.10. The system robs no one of anything
except undesirable habits and attitudes. Instead, it adds much to the pleasures
of life almost without the participants knowing it. However, system children
do learn the difference between work time and play time, and they vigorously
enjoy both in different ways. Moreover, system youngsters become as self-reliant
at play as they do at work. This takes the form of healthy and sometimes
innovative fun. Add to this the fact that recreational trips may be purchased
as motivational items, and you have educational opportunities as well. Such
pleasure jaunts can be designed to introduce youngsters to many new and unique
playtime opportunities they might not discover on their own in ordinary child
management families.
In answer to the thought that "kids should be allowed to be kids," that is
exactly why so many people can't stand to have the "monsters" around. Freedom
without self accountability develops into an unrestrained nightmare.
Q.11. Doesn't the System force kids to become
adults too soon, when such weighty problems have to be considered and solved
in a Council meeting?
A.11. Absolutely not! No child is forced
to do anything he doesn't want to do by System. Of course every system youngster
can be made to wish he had performed properly, but that's all. System kids
perform as they see fit, and at their own pace, as long as they don't become
a burden on the household or take the rights of another member. If a System
youngster feels overburdened with Counsel decisions, he may resign his seat
at any time and become a ward of the state (completely managed). Yet no system
child would ever considered doing so voluntarily. People who have learned
to think for themselves enjoy exercising the privilege at every opportunity.
Q.12. When is the best age to start a child
in the System?
A.12. Whenever a child has reached the age
of reasoning and comprehension. All you can do is try the System on for size,
and if it works, use it. If not, wait until it does.
Q.13. Are System kids pressured or coerced
in any way to contribute to the household's financial budget when the family
desperately needs their earnings? And, couldn't this become a problem for
some families in the future.
A.13. No System child can be pressured or
coerced as they do in a management household. There are built in preventions
and remedies such as a "Constitution" and "Laws." Parents who revert to
child-management become Systemless - something worse than death once its
been enjoyed. Most System kids have a highly developed conscience and wouldn't
have to be pressured or coerced into voluntarily contributing earnings. Also,
anyone giving real-dollars receives valuable Points and services for them.
Q.14. Do System children sometimes resent
having to work for everything they want to enjoy while knowing that most
child-management youngsters don't?
A.14. Not according to what system kids
say! They happily point out that the freedom they enjoy with the program
far outweighs any effort expended. All system youngsters are goal oriented,
and they talk about this constantly. Such think-for-themselves children quickly
inform any doubter that this is preferable to what's available to their friends.
System youngsters know that they don't have to beg for favors but, instead,
can almost always achieve their desires - if enough sweat is expended. This
is a feeling they wouldn't trade for all the leisure in the world.
Q.15. Shouldn't the children feel a duty
to perform household tasks without receiving any payment for them, in either
real money or Points?
A.15. System children are trained, almost
effortlessly, to perform council assigned duties, or else they pay the stipulated
fine. Parents of child-management youngsters have a terrible time trying
to accomplish the same thing. Can't you imagine some slave owner in the early
1800s trying to talk some motivation into his chattel, using exactly the
same words found in this question?
Q.16. What happens if kids don't want to
come to Council meetings? Suppose you can't even get a quorum?
A.16. Some Councils stipulate a fine for
every absence. However, this normally isn't a problem, if the children have
some voting participation. Children like adults enjoy self-control and the
Council meeting is where its legislated. Most councils ignore absences. If
the child doesn't care, why should the parents? A quorum can be anything
the Council chooses.
Q.17. Suppose I don't want my kids to know
how much money I make. Isn't it possible to start the System without disclosing
this fact?
A.17. Certainly! Merely state the amount
of money you are offering and nothing more.
Q.18. When kids know everything about their
parents, can't they be expected to blab it to their friends? Also, some
information may cause the children to worry unnecessarily.
A.18. The System requires no one to bare
all at Council meetings. Such a get together is merely a legislative and
communication tool available to anyone wishing to use it. Moreover, System
kids would never be guilty of indiscriminate blabbing. Remember, they are
proud of their household. None will intentionally embarrass it. And if this
weren't enough, the stiff fine and loss of their Council seat would be.
Q.19. Does your court system teach kids to
be lawsuit happy? The court dockets today are already overloaded. Why should
parents instigate a tendency in youngsters toward more lawsuits?
A.19. Actually, the System creates the opposite
tendency in children. Guilty System kids quickly learn to place themselves
at the mercy of the court and take their medicine, rather than pay court
costs and suffer the same fate anyway. Soon, they behave themselves and court
cases are not required.
Q.20. Do kids ever try to beat the System?
Do they ever succeed?
A.20. Often! But they never succeed! After
child-management training, what would you expect? The rascal's efforts are
often humorous to any bystander. Of course, the self-inflected pain the child
always suffers isn't a bit funny to him. He soon learns that no matter how
hard he tries, he can never escape the long arm of the Law. Sometimes this
provides a drain on parents' patience. But they must let the law run its
course. If they don't, things rapidly deteriorate back into management methods
- which (as said before) is a fate worse than death.
Q.21. I had it so hard that I'd like to make
it easier on my kids. So is there anything wrong with giving my kids presents
and things without any requirement that they be earned?
A.2l. No, there isn't, as long as circumspection
is used. But parents must not attempt to buy love or manipulate children
with presents. Moreover, youngsters must not be led to expect such charity.
Occasional gifts, approval, and expressions of love that come strictly from
the heart are as important to System kids as they are to the child- management
youngster, if not even more so, because they don't get them as often.
Nevertheless, parental generosity must never include bending System laws
or rules. No system child will ever resent the withholding of unearned material
things, since each is trained to expect nothing less. Only child-management
children may label it stinginess, for they have been educated to believe
that perhaps parents don't really love them if parents refuse to share what
parents have earned. Fortunately for the overly generous parent, System kids
will voice their objections whenever father's or mother's generosity becomes
either unjust or obnoxious.
Q.22. With so many facets of the System necessary
before it will function properly, how can I cut it down to where it will
be easier for me to start? It just seems so complicated I don't know how
to begin.
A.22. Visit all of our web sites. Basic
instructions are there. If you have done so already, and still can't understand,
then and only then buy some of our three book-manuals. One basic book for
parents and one for teachers plus an advanced book to make everything work
smoothly for both. The "Successful Children" book is half for teachers and
half for parents. The Harrisons sell them as a package because only the one
basic book is insufficient for either the teacher or the parent. All three
books take anyone by the hand and lead him or her through step by step
instructions. Actually, starting the System is a lot easier than you might
think. Moreover, once you get the bare bones established the kids operate
it for the teacher or parents. Moreover, the books carry a 30 day return
guarantee.
The Results of "Harrison System" Implementation
are Nothing Less Than Astonishing! See
For Yourself! Watch for more forthcoming articles! OR YOU CAN:
Buy our books! The books are not expensive and they're fun to read! Two for
teachers @ $32; Two for Parents @ $24; or Three if you are a parent and teacher
@ $42. Add an additional $5 S&H charge plus 8% tax for Californians.
Send a personal check (10 day clearance wait) or money (U.S Money only) order
to: Allan E. Harrison, 21863 Brill Rd., Moreno Valley, CA. 92553.
OR order the books through CelebrityHowTo with
your credit card (payment is in Canadian money).
