Should Teens get part-time jobs during the school year or....

[princesspumpkin]

only during the summer or not at all until they graduate from college? Many people say that their kids' only job is to do well in school, so i was wondering if people feel that kids should get a part-time job as soon as they are able. I have worked since I was 15. It was expected and because we were poor, part of my money went towards household expenses. I must admit, it would have been nice to NOT have that responsibility while being in my last, and most important years of high school. DH and I think that DD shouldn't work during the school year. We want her to have timie to concentrate on her studies, as well as participate in any after-school activities that she likes. But having a job over the summer is a great way to keep her occupied. Any thoughts?

 

[FigmentKid]

I think it depends on the kid and the situation. My parents wouldn't allow me to have a job in high school because I went to a private school that gave me about 3-4 hours of work a night, lots of big papers, projects tests etc. so I honestly didn't have time for a job. In the summers they saw it as my time off so didn't force me to have a job then either. My big bro however was not exactly a school-minded kid, went to a different school than me, had significantly less work, and they were happy when he wanted an after school job!

In college my parents allowed me to work on campus at a part time job for spending money and to help out with some costs (like books). In the summers, however, they required me to either be doing one of three things, taking a full load of classes, have a full time summer job, or have an internship.

I was lucky that my parents could afford to do this for me and it definitely allowed me to be fully focused on school. I was stressed out enough as it was!! I had friends who had jobs in high school and college, and they managed, but it was a lot harder for them to manage their time.

 

[Free4Life11]

I worked while in school and got fine grades. Some kids are capable of doing well in school and having a part time job, others aren't. Also some jobs are more flexible than not. So it depends on the job and the kid.

 

[Evil Queen]

Yes, I do believe school were/are my kid's jobs. So no need to work outside the home, unless THEY wanted/want money I won't give them.

When oldest decided he would drop out of high school, his choice= a job, school or move out. He went on to Culinary school, got his degree and has worked ever since completing school (and not always in the culinary field).

I dropped out of HS at 16, I was given the same choice, I went to college.

Yes, DS23 and I got our GED's immediatley after leaving school.

I started working at 12 and other than being laid off, have always worked.

 

[mickeysgal]

I think it totally depends on a combination of the child and the job. If they play sports of any kind, this will limit whether they can or should be working as well. I know that my son will be working in and around his homework and the sport that he plays. He may not rack in a lot of hours, but it will give him a sense of responsibility and independence not to mention a few dollars in his pocket.

 

[Just2554]

Speaking as a 19 year old, I think it's a terrible idea not to make your kids get a job. Even if it's only a summer job to due school responsibilities, I honestly think the best thing in the world for a teenager is a job.

I have to say, I have some friends who have never had a job, never lifted a finger. They needed money? Well their parents give it to them because school and whatever else were more important. And you know what? Now that they are done with their freshman year of college and want a job, no one will hire them. They have no experience, no sense of responsibility, and nothing motivating them except now their parents won't give them money.

Anyways, I think a job is a good and should be a necessary idea. It throws kids into the real world and encourages responsibility among other things. Plus, they will gain experience, which they will draw upon sometime in the near future (especially as they head toward college).

 

[KimR]

I think it depends on how demanding their schoolwork is and/or how many extracurricular activities they are involved in. I do think teenagers should be doing something constructive with their free time rather than just 'hanging out'. My DDs will either be involved in sports, performing arts, school clubs, volunteer work, or have a part-time job.

 

[dmslush]

As dd gets closer to 15, we have begun discussing this. We have pretty much agreed that she can work weekends during the school year. I don't want her working on weeknights. She can also work during the summer. I, however, am not going to make her get a job.

 

[disykat]

I think it depends.

I worked summers during high school and during the school year my senior year when my class load had lightened. I had lots of babysitting jobs to keep me busy when I wasn't "working" (this was back when babysitting paid way less than minimum wage).

In college, I worked summers and some semesters - depending on my classload. The semesters I didn't work I was able to sign up to waitress banquets at the student union when they fit in my schedule.

I think the best case scenario for a busy student is to have that kind of flexibility. I definately think outside employment is important (frankly, we always thought kids that didn't work at all were weird), but not at the expense of schoolwork or extra-curriculars.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

It totally depends on the kids and the situation they are in. Some kids need to work early on. Others don't.
It also depends on if they really want to work or not. If they want to work during the school year, allow them to until you see that it might be affecting their school work. If that happens, then they need to quit working immediately. School is most important.

Some kids who think or expect that everything should be handed to them from their parents or anyone else, should work to pay for the things they want. They need to learn that money doesn't grow on trees.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I understand what people are saying. But, on that same note, why do kids have to start experiencing this type of responsibility at 15 or 16 during the school year? Can't teens get the same life lessons by working during each summer (that's about 5 summers of experience before college graduation if they start working after junior year)? I think that's a nice transition.

 

[pooh4evr]

My 4 siblings and I all worked during high school and played 3 sports we worked during the week and on weekends- up at 6 am- to school by 7:20- school out at 2:15 practice follows until 5:30-6:00 home shower then work until 10 then homework bed by 12. Now we did not work every night maybe 1 or 2 ut we did work all weekend unless we had a meet or game - we were expected to earn/ save money for college, pay for gas in the car and our own spending $. Don't think ti hurt me if anything it kept us out of trouble!

 

[soccerfreak_08]

As a teenager I have an agreement with my parent that I am allowed to have a job as long as my grades do not drop. If my grades drop then I have to quit.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

This is a debate that we have had among wrestling parents for the last couple of years.

My son couldnt work because he wrestles all year around. He wrestles 3 different styles and then coaches pee wee's . He is on honor roll at school and also coaches the JV team when Varsity doesnt wrestle.

For my child he couldnt pull it off if he had to , he would either have to suffer with grades or wrestling. He wants to be a police officer and he wants to wrestle for the next 4 years so he needed good grades and he needed to wrestle : )

My son is the only one who is gradutaing this year that was chased down by many schools to wrestle next year in college . No one else is going on to wrestle and the ones who worked during the off season and some during season are going to a local Junior College next year. I almost cant help but wonder if it was working instead of doing school work that go them there .

Just my thoughts : ) nothing more nothing less

 

[Saphire]

I think it is good for kids to learn to multi-task...just think of all the things we must juggle as we become adults. My sons had part-time jobs at 15/16 (my daughter is 16 and will have 2 part-time jobs this summer) and although the money was helpful, I think the biggest advantage was that they learned to manage and organize their time. Usually the kids who do well in school also participate in sports and extra-curricular activites, and have jobs on top of that. One of the characterisitcs of successful people is that they can handle many responsibilities at once. I don't think 16 is too soon to start learning.

 

[VampHeartless]

I always thought it was a bad idea. My parents made me work, and honestly it hurt me more than it helped. I was always concentrating on my job and not on school. I think parents just don't realize everything that today's teenager's have to go through with so many school and outsides hobbies that you have to get involved in to go to college. My father hated that I did drama, german, JROTC, and computer club, and he hates that my brother is editor of the school newspaper...but these are the things that really get children into college nowadays. GPA is a small part of it really. The schedule is so hard and frantic to begin with...and work only compounds the issue.

 

[mum4jenn]

Again it depends on the situation. I began working when I was 17 BUT it was a job through Distributive Education so I was only allowed to work 17 1/2 hours a week. I usually worked 2 or 3 nights on school nights and then an 8 hour shift on Saturday and every other Sunday. We closed at 9 pm(a shoe store) and was only open 1-6 on Sundays. I don't think I could have worked at a fast food place and kept my grades up.

When ever my own dd is old enough if she is able to keep her grades up and if she can find a job with early hours like I had then I would be all for it.

 

[rigs32]

This was a huge conflict when my dad remarried. I was raised to work hard at school, take dances lessons, and be involved - marching band, tennis team, honor society, musicals. And I worked in the summers. Stepmom thought I should work during the school year like her kids, but that would have meant giving up a lot and possibly impacting my GPA, as weekends were studying time for me.

I graduated #8 out of 335 people and have a good work ethic. One of her daughters took 4 years to get through a 2 year school program because she flunked a lot of her classes the first time around.

One of the worst times for me was being home for a college break - four weeks is not long enough to find a part time job when you don't have a standing agreement. I did try, but every single day she badgered me about it. I couldn't FORCE anyone to hire me and once I had 2 weeks left was it worth the cost of the gas to drive around handing in applications? It really affected my relationship with my dad, but that's another issue.

 

[Caradana]

SPORTS over WORK as a high schooler - it will help the kid get into college, and it will also teach teamwork and fun in a way that $7/hour can't truly replicate.

A summer job is a terrific idea, and the best way to do it is to give the kid a marketable skill. Lifeguard training isn't terribly expensive and doesn't take a long time, and summer jobs as lifeguards in condo complexes are pretty nice.

 

[jimmalru80]

I agree with the other posters. It depends on the situation. For our family, my main goal is school grades and sports. My children do not have time to work. DS, now a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, worked summers, but during school, worked only Sundays for spending $$. Twin DD's (16) do not work, nor would I force them to do so. They are honor roll students and compete in both AAU basketball and travel club soccer. The only day they do not have practice is Monday, and we are booked solid every weekend from March until August. If they were not "involved", they would be working.