Thrift & Generosity Background Information
What is Thrift and Generosity?
What has been described here is an ideal. While most people would agree that being thrifty and generous are good qualities of character, it is often difficult to put these ideals into practice.
Nowadays, especially in light of the harsh economic realities under which most of us live, thrift is thought of primarily in relation to money. One is considered thrifty if one saves money and curtails foolish spending.
Generosity, like thrift, perhaps even more so, is also seen mostly through the lens of economics. The measure of a person’s generosity, especially in our culture, is measured by the extent to which an individual gives their money to others.
Of course, it’s true that thrift and generosity are both related to saving and giving money, but to view them exclusively through the paradigm of economics is to confine them to their narrowest meaning. One of the goals of the Thrift & Generosity exhibit is to define thrift and help students to explore the connection between it and generosity.
Once people get to about age six we can fairly say that we all possess two very valuable assets: our time and our talent. As we grow older, we also acquire money and other material things earned from the work that we do. Nearly all people have both tangible and intangible assets. Thrift, then, can be defined as the wise use of our time, talents and money.
You know a person is thrifty if they save a portion of their income, and live financially within their means. But thrifty people are also frugal with their time. Imagine an individual who is a virtuoso at playing a musical instrument. For anyone to have distinguished themselves this way means that they have spent a lifetime making informed and wise decisions about the best use of their time, and selected long-term benefits over short-term gain.
Of course, not everyone has the ability to play the cello, for instance, like YoYo Ma! But in order to become proficient in anything we choose to do requires hard work and the wise use of time. As Thomas Edison said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
The wise use of talent is also a component of thrift. Often people put their talent to good use by incorporating it into how they earn a living. In fact, many people have jobs doing things for which they have ability. But people can also use their talent in the service of others. A teacher may use her talent by becoming a volunteer tutor, and someone who is a particularly good listener may spend time with folks who struggle with homelessness, addiction or abuse.
Generosity and thrift are closely related. Generosity is often seen solely as selflessly giving money to worthy causes. This is certainly a big part of generosity, but there are other ways in which to give. People are generous when they share what they have. Sometimes that is money, or other material possessions; but at other times it can be a kind word, a smile, or a few hours a week helping others. Thrift and generosity are inextricably woven together. Thrift facilitates generosity. You can‘t have one without the other.
What has been described here is an ideal. While most people would agree that being thrifty and generous are good qualities of character, it is often difficult to put these ideals into practice.
The culture in which we live, and in which we continue to consciously and unconsciously create, is increasingly materialistic with an overemphasis on material wealth and the conspicuous display of it. Extravagance, gluttony and greed, once despised character traits, are now viewed as the rightful spoils of hard work and part of the American dream. Looking out for number one with little thought or regard for anyone else has also become an omnipresent feature of everyday American life.
Materialism and apathy are the insidious fundamental forces which erode thrift and generosity. Materialism, in the form of conspicuous consumption, is usually easy to identify and therefore easier to curb. Apathy however is a different animal. Apathy is defined really not by what is done, but by what is not done. It’s critical that young people not only learn the dangers of expecting that someone else will act, but also come to understand that they are inherently responsible to take the initiative when the occasion arises.
The Interactive
The goal of the exhibit is to help broaden and deepen users understanding of thrift and generosity and learn how they are related.
The interactive is comprised of four scenarios which involve thrift and generosity. During the course of these interactives, students will be asked questions which will require them to decide how to use their time and talents wisely.
The first scenario involves a young person having to decide what to do with an unexpected windfall; the second is about participating in a community project; the third is about raising and donating money for a worthy cause, and the fourth is about spearheading a recycling program. As part of the interactive, students will accumulate coins and will make decisions about whether to save them, spend them, or donate them to charitable causes.
In each scenario young people will be asked to make choices about how to use their time, money and talents wisely and generously. The exhibit also educates users about the enemies of thrift and generosity; materialism and apathy.
Like most of the interactives in the Heroes of Character exhibition, the Thrift & Generosity interactive features individuals who have made significant contributions of their time, talent and money to help others. These people were selected, not because of they are rich and famous, but because they have used their fame and fortunes in the service of others.
Yao Ming is a Chinese born professional basketball player. He plays for the Houston Rockets and has become one of the world’s most recognizable professional athletes.
Ming has spent a great deal of his time raising money for charitable efforts. He has raised millions of dollars to help people who suffer from disease and poverty. In 2008, started the Yao Ming Foundation and personally donated two million dollars to the earthquake relief in China.
Oprah Winfrey is a well-known philanthropist and one of the very few black billionaires in the world. She began her career as an actress, winning an Oscar for her role in The Color Purple and has been a popular television host for decades.
Oprah’s Angel Network has raised more than 51 million dollars for victims of Hurricane Katrina and education initiatives. She is a strong and vocal advocate for the right’s of children, and created the Family for Better Lives Foundation. Winfrey has been named by Business Week as the greatest African American philanthropist in American history, and by Life magazine as the most influential woman of her generation.
Franklin is a founding father, well-know American inventor, scientist, politician, writer and printer. He is credited with helping to lay the foundation of American character which emphasizes the qualities of thrift, hard work, and community spirit, among others. Franklin is known for making many careful observations about the importance of thrift.
“Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich.”
“Beware of little expenses, a small leak can sink a great ship.”
“Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure.”
Sir John Templeton was a Tennessee-born investor and philanthropist who made the practice of thrift and generosity two of the guiding principles of his life. Sir John amassed a fortune as a pioneer in global mutual funds, then gave away hundreds of millions of dollars through his philanthropy, the John Templeton Foundation.
An unfailing optimist, a believer in progress, and a relentless questioner, Sir John devoted the second half of his long life to promoting the discovery of what he called "new spiritual information." To him, this term encompassed progress in understanding not only matters usually considered religious but also the deepest realities of human nature and the physical world—that is, subjects best investigated by using the tools of modern science.
One of Sir John’s favorite Laws of Life was, “People who do good, do well.” Sir John embodied this principle, and his extraordinary professional and philanthropic achievements have touched the lives of millions and millions around the world.
Making Adjustments
The scenarios offered in the Thrift & Generosity interactive require that users make choices. It’s important to note that there are no wrong choices and that younger users may make selections that are self-serving. This is natural for younger children, and only highlights what we know about their cognitive and moral development. As children grow and learn, they begin to develop their capacity for empathy and their ability to plan and set long-range goals.
Younger students may need more help processing why some choices might be considered better than others. It will be up to you to provide the scaffolding that is absent from the interactive so that students fully appreciate the subtleties that can be considered when making the best choice.
The National Liberty Museum’s Heroes of Character website has numerous classroom activities based around these interactives and the values which are featured in them. The activities were designed specifically to extend the museum experience.