When automation and AI finally strip away millions of middle-class jobs, will we treat it as the ultimate human triumph of liberation from labor—or the catastrophic collapse of a system that conditions your right to survive on your output?

During parent-teacher night, one of my seven-year-old students arrived with his mum and immediately announced, "Miss has two jobs." His mum looked surprised. "So teaching isn't your only job?" Apparently not, according to him. He explained that he'd seen me "working at the pub" on Saturday. I had, in fact, been eating chips at the pub. His evidence was devastating: "She carried glasses." I'd moved three empty glasses from our table because the server was clearing it. His mum asked, "Do you work weekends?" Before I could answer, he added, "Probably because teachers don't get enough money." Now two parents waiting outside were listening. Then he leaned closer to his mum and whispered at full volume, "Sometimes she looks tired on Mondays." His mother apologized while trying not to laugh. The next morning he handed me a pound coin. "Mum says I can't give you this." "Then why are you giving it to me?" "For the pub.”