上次文章裡面我介紹說美國家長和學生對體育，音樂，藝術特別的重視，我也一直在思考，體育，音樂，藝術既要大量的時間和精力，還是個燒錢的活，材料，器材，裝備，樣樣都要錢。最簡單的，美國公立學校高中，學生不用一分錢學費，很多私立走讀學校一年的學費不到兩萬美金，但兒子一個樂隊的隊服要大幾百美金，樂隊一把薩克斯在美國要好幾千美金，如果加上校內外的訓練，比賽各種花銷可真不是一個家庭總收入中的小比例數目。
那麼美國學生和家長花這麼多時間和金錢在體育，音樂，或藝術上他們的收穫會是哪些？我一直也沒有想全，想清楚。
今天一個朋友分享了一個帖子，是美國一位叫DaveFulk的企業家、作家，2017年6月在Linkdedin網絡上發的一個帖子，解釋為什麼花那麼多錢讓孩子學各種體育項目，我覺得基本回答了我的疑問。
他是這麼寫的：
One of my friends asked，，，，“Why do you pay so much money for your kids to do all their sports？”Well I have a confession to make; I don’t pay for my kids to do sports. Personally，I couldn’t care less about what sport they do.
我的一個朋友問我：“為什麼你花那麼多錢讓你的孩子練體育？”那麼我要坦白一件事，我根本不是把錢花在孩子的體育上了。就我個人而言，我甚至對孩子究竟參加什麼體育項目都不關心。
So，if I am not paying for sports what am I paying for？
那麼如果我沒有為孩子的體育花錢，我的錢到底花在什麼地方了呢？
I pay for those moments when my kids become so tired they want to quit but don’t.
我為我孩子已經精疲力竭而想放棄但最終又堅持下來的那些時刻花了錢。
I pay for those days when my kids come home from school and are“too tired” to go to their training but they go anyway.
我為我孩子放學回家已經累到不能去訓練但無論如何還是去了的那些日子花了錢。
I pay for my kids to learn to be disciplined，focused and dedicated.
我為我孩子學會了遵守紀律、專注和奉獻花了錢。
I pay for my kids to learn to take care of their body and equipment.
我為我孩子學會了照顧自己的身體和裝備花了錢。
I pay for my kids to learn to work with others and to be good team mates，gracious in defeat and humble insuccess.
我為我孩子學會了和他人協作、成為一個優秀的團隊成員、敗不餒勝不驕花了錢。
I pay for my kids to learn to deal with disappointment，when they don’t get that placing or title they’d hoped for，but still they go back week after week giving it their best shot.
我為我孩子學會了在沒有取得期望的排名或頭銜時能面對挫折，並且一週又一週地捲土重來竭盡全力花了錢。
I pay for my kids to learn to make and accomplish goals.
我為我孩子學會了制定目標並實現目標花了錢。
I pay for my kids to respect，not only them selves，but other athletes，officials and coaches.
我為我孩子學會了不僅尊重自己，而且尊重其他運動員、裁判和教練花了錢。
I pay for my kids to learn that it takes hours and hours，years and years of hard work and practice to create achampion and that success does not happen overnight.
我為我孩子知道了需要日復一日、年復一年艱苦努力和訓練才能獲得冠軍而不是一夜之間就獲得成功花了錢。
I pay for my kids to be proud of small achievements，and to work towards long term goals.
我為我孩子懂得為小的成就感到自豪並且不斷為長遠目標努力花了錢。
I pay for the opportunity my kids have and will have to make lifelong friendships，create lifelong memories，to be as proud of their achievements as I am.
我為我孩子得到的或者將要得到的結交終生好友的機會、產生人生美好回憶的機會，以及和我一樣為自己的成就感到驕傲的機會花了錢。
I pay so that my kids can be out on the field or in the gym instead of in front of a screen...
我花了錢讓我孩子可以外出去運動場或者體育館而不是在電子屏幕前待著……
I could go on but，to be short，I don’t pay for sports; I pay for the opportunities that sports provide my kids with to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity tobless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!
我還能說出更多花錢的地方，但是簡而言之，我並沒有為體育花錢，我的錢花在了伴隨體育而來的發展孩子終身受用的品格的機會。就目前我所觀察到的，我認為這錢花得相當值！
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