It’s Christmas time, and many of us are making wish lists, checking them twice and hoping that Santa will think we were not naughty but nice.
So in the spirit of Christmas, here is what I wish for: students who come to school ready and willing to learn and who leave school with the ability and desire to do their homework--in short, students from families for whom education is one of the top priorities.
Even here in Scottsdale, that’s so often NOT the case. And the biggest culprit might be after-school jobs--at least at the high school level.
I hear too often of students who are missing out on high school activities because of their jobs; or who can’t/don’t complete homework and yet somehow find time to work 20 hours a week; or who don’t get nearly enough sleep and yet they--you guessed it--still have time to work.
I understand that some kids really do have to work; perhaps they have to financially help their families or have to save for college. However, too often, they work because their parents make them work.
I wish that wasn’t the case.
It would be nice to see families making education the primary priority, with work only allowing on the scene if a student is not going to miss out on the high school experience in order to work.
However, even as I write this, I know that this is a “Teacher’s Wish List” and that there are probably plenty of parents out there with a far different “Parent’s Wish List” who would much rather have their children being “responsible” and holding down a job than playing baseball or belonging to a few community service clubs.
I understand that, but this one is MY wish list. And I truly believe that MOST families who make education a priority reap the rewards of that commitment.
Chris Marsh--mother, teacher, runner, coach....
I totally agree with you.
I totally agree with you. My husband and I have agreed that our 13 year old is NOT allowed to have a job in high school. His job is school and getting good grades. However, I am a high school teacher so maybe that's why we feel so strongly about it. I also wish more parents would make education the number 1 priority and not allow their children to have a job during the school year.
I think teaching our
I think teaching our children responsibility and accountability are high priorities. They should know that school is the first responsibility. I tell my children their job is to do well in school. I will give you that wish you want from my family:) Happy holidays!!
KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.
I agree with you, Chris. My
I agree with you, Chris. My husband and I have already discussed this and we don't want our son to work when he's in school. We want him to focus on school and aftercurricular activities, and to enjoy that time in his life. He will have his whole life to work a job and pay bills - while he's in school he should enjoy just being a teenager. Whatever he needs,we'll provide - even if I have to get a second job. I don't want him to worry about it. Considering the fact that we'll be footing the bill for private school tuition until he's out of high school, I expect his studies to take priority.
I am new to moms section.
I am new to moms section. But I totally agree with Katy. Most adults can't hold down 1.5 jobs and do them both well so why should we expect that of teenagers?
It is just too hard for them
It is just too hard for them to focus on school when they are working 20 hours a week.....and for what? So they can waste time slaving away at some minimum wage job.....which may negatively impact their studies and reduce their options for higher education, which in turn limits their future earning potential so they end up relegated to a lifetime of sub-par employment?
No way, not my boy. I don't want that for him
I suppose it's how you raise
I suppose it's how you raise your kid, My daughter has been working pt at a mall dept store since she was 16, when she got her license and pays the add on to ins. which is 36.00 a month.. She is a 3.67 GPA, and has been recognized for her integrity and her high respect for her teachers,, all her teachers wrote letters for her to recieve private scholarships to ASU and she did get some. She is paying for her own ASU tuition, (the portion not covered on scholarships).. during hs, she only worked 14 hours a week and now a freshman in college she is working 15 to 25 depending on schedule and exams.. she takes 18 credit hours and is very honored by her professors..She has done lots of activities in performance outside of HS and now College, infact, some of you would have seen her vocal talents at some of the festivals around the Phx metro area...I don't believe that handing everything to my kid is good "my opinion" and the man who marries her will be very fortunate to have a young woman who can hold her own and be able to work her career choice and be home with her children..
" just my Opinion"
That's great and it sounds
That's great and it sounds like you have raised her well - but my position remains unchanged - my son will not work during the school year. During the summer - yes - but not while school is in session.
That isn't to say I beleive in "handing" everything to him - he's already got household responsibilities and has to earn what money we give him. I worked in HS and looking back I think it wasn't worth it - my husband feels the same - we should have focused on school 100%.
"just my opinion" :)
Hey Katy, thanks for not
Hey Katy, thanks for not taking defense to what I said, it's seems everyone on here gets offensive.. I do believe it's all in how you raise your kids, and as you and I know, alot of them just hand everything over to them.. and then if they lose something or wreck the car, the parents fix it and get them another one..I think that's when they should take the bus or walk,, Kids are to spoiled now days, and of course, I will here back how taking the bus is bad or they can't take the bus everywhere,, yes they can, they may have to leave a bit earlier, but that's life, get over it.. and as far as safety goes.. my older one pretty much, kicked butt against her instructor when he pinned her down unexpectly while she was walking to her street fight class.. he actually did this on purpose to see if the student was prepared for the unexpected. and went into class with his lip bleeding and his wife was like "ok, we trained her the way we wanted too" Hopefully she will never have to use it.
" just my Opinion"
No problem....I didn't take
No problem....I didn't take it as a criticism, so no need for me to be defensive............ I suppose my goal is to strike a balance somewhere between making my son's life better (and in some ways easier) than mine, but at the same time not so easy that he gets a sense of entitlement about life - that is actually a handicap in itself.
Hopefully when he's a grown man he'll look back and say mom and dad gave me a gift and I used it well.
i guess as a parent i want
i guess as a parent i want my child to have a better life than i did. but i still watn them to learn responsibility that was taught to me. i had to give up after school sports in high school my senior year because i was 18 and had to start working according to my parents. my junior year i won the state championship in the mile in track. by not being able to run beacue of my job let my team down but thaos were my parents rules. i missed out on a lot, couldnt go to my homecoming dance and barely got off for prom. so my rules for my kids is that they will not work during high school. these are the best years of their lives and if they want to play sports or other extracurricular activities i will support them. on the other hand, they have to have a summer job and that has worked out well. my kids are 13 yrs apart and the youngest worked for his older brother the summer he was 15. my oldest has a construction remodleing businees and jay had to reroof a house . it was hot and then it was monsoon. after that summer he made up his mind that he was going to college so he wouldnt have to work as hard as his brother who decided he didnt need college. and.. he learned how hard you have to work for a few dollars and how fast they can be spent. we also have a rule at home that overrides the school rule. he has to have a b or better to participate in sports. he is going to school to learn not to play sports so that is the first priority. playing sports is the icing on the cake. I admire all teachers these days especially high school teachers. i volunteered one semester with the chemistry teacher . i dont know how they do it if we would have been as disrespectufl as the kids are today, we would have gotten our butts beat at school and then again when we got home. but even teh parents are so disrespectful these days. that one semester made me change my major from teaching to nursing, at least the pay is better
Thank you for acknowledging
Thank you for acknowledging how disrespectful kids are today, a learned habit from their disrespectful parents, who are always calling and coming to their rescue and saying "not my kid' or making excuses and blaming others..
" just my Opinion"