Inopiae desunt multa; avaritiae, omnia.
(Publilius Syrus, Sententia 236).

Poverty lacks many things; greed lacks everything.

(pron = in-OH-pee-aye DAY-soont MOOL-tah ah-wah-RIH-tih-ah OHM-nee-ah)

Comment: When students are new to my classroom and to me, they have to go
through detox (so to speak!). I do not assess students with “points”, and so
in the beginning, I am assaulted with: “how many points is this worth? Will I
lose points? How can I get some extra points? Are you going to take off
points because it’s late?”

So, I have to respond: “none, no, you can’t, no I won’t”.

“Points” and how we have used them traditionally in classrooms turn students
into greedmeisters for points, constantly and everywhere looking for and
hording “points”, and in the process, they miss something—like learning. In my
class, they miss Latin, stories, literature, great ideas, disturbing ideas,
culture comparisons and contrasts, the ability to take time to reflect.

So, to re-write this proverb from within my teaching experience: some students
will struggle with certain things; but those who are obsessed with getting
their points will miss everything.

It translates to the “adult” world. What obsesses me? Must I always be in
control? Do things always have to be my way, about me? If so, I am missing my
life and the life of the world as it goes by.