by Trisha Orlando

Created on: July 22, 2010

NO! Teens should not work part-time jobs.

Teenage and high school years are the best time of your life. Ask any adult. Teens should enjoy them, you only get one shot at being young. This is when your greatest lifelong memories are made. Punching a clock is not a fond memory, it is something you will do the REST of your life.

Parents, don't be so fast to cut that finanacial support, you chose to have children and you knew you were going to support them for 18 years so JUST DO IT. Don't try to get out of it early. There should be a penalty for that.

Sure, jobs teach responsibility but so do other things. Parents can give teens jobs to do around the house and pay them. Teach them how to save it wisely. If they want something above and beyond what a parent can normally be expected to provide, let them earn it while working for you, the parent.

Let's look at this from an employers perspective too. Hiring an inexperienced teen takes a lot of patience and guidance. It requires more attention to the worker who has no experience. Be prepared to make allowances for many requests for time off as school sports and events are important to teens. Young men and women learn about loyalty, camaraderie and sportsmanship in school, let's not forget how important that is to shaping a young citizen.

We don't allow people to smoke or drink until they are 18 or 21 because we don't recognize them as adults until that age. So why should we force them into the adult life of holding down a job and all the responsibility that comes with that? Maintaining a good grade in school is a big responsibility, let them concentrate on that without worrying if they have time to get their term paper written.

Weekends for teens are the same amount of hours that weekends for adults are. Teens put in a full "work" week at school. Let them relax and enjoy lilfe just like everyone else.

Summers should be spent enjoying the last few years of being able to sleep in, talk on the phone, and hang out with your friends. The next 45 plus years of your life you will have to punch a clock and put everything else aside and make your job your priority. Why would anyone impose that on our youth?

9 out of 10 working adults will tell you they wish they didn't have to go to work today. ....  Doesn't that tell you something?

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