Teen job

Note: there was no post yesterday because we're at a family reunion out of town, and I assumed there would be internet! Big mistake.

Another note: there is a theme this week: the transition from dependent student to self-supporting grown-up. 

Some parents don't want their kids to have a job as teenagers. They have good reasons, like focus on homework, clubs, etc. But teenagers could miss certain opportunities that come with a paying job out in the marketplace.

"[W]orking teaches us the joy of producing — of being useful to others — as opposed to merely consuming the goods and services produced by others. At work, it’s about the team, and what you’re contributing. At school, it’s about you, and what you’re getting. A student consumes an education provided by his or her teachers — folks who don’t need you to perform like a boss does. Teachers get paid the same whether their students earn As or Cs."

"So work is where teens are more likely to have their narcissism confronted. After all, working as a teen gives you a chance to fail when the stakes are relatively low. You’d rather make mistakes in part-time jobs, not in your first full-time gig. And it helps to receive clear correction when you fall short.

Less than 20% of teenagers today are employed while in school, an all-time low percentage.