Working teenagers

Press, 24 February 1988, Page 18

Working teenagers

From the “Economist,” London

American youngsters have long earned pocket-money by doing small jobs before or after school — deliverying newspapers, packing supermarket bags or running errands. Their earnings went on the movies, sweets or small presents for their families or friends. Nothing wrong with that. But nowadays a regular job after the school day is a commonplace. In 1960 the Bureau of Labour found that just under a third of the 16-19-year-olds at school went from the classroom to a job. By 1987 nearly half of these older children were in regular employment. And not for pin money. Many were earning $2OO (SNZ3OB) a month working 17 hours a week in shops and fast-food restaurants or doing housework and looking after children. Lucky ones were earning as much as $5OO (SNZ77O). With families providing a home and regular

meals, this is pure profit. Few families object. There are worse occupations for idle hands. Some reason that their children are learning the American work ethic. And in many families both parents are out working all day and see their offspring only for an evening meal, if that. The children are no more deprived of parental attention than they would be if they came straight home from school. One thing most of the youngsters are not learning is how to save. It is reckoned that about 30 per cent put aside some or all of their earnings towards going to college, but most spend their money on themselves and feel no need to apologise for doing so. Only about 5 per cent of these teenagers make any contribution to the family finances. Instead the money goes on clothes, cars (the one thing most boys will save for), videos and

going out to enjoy themselves. For these young earners — many of whom are white, because the businesses that employ them tend not to be in black or Hispanic neighbourhoods — there may be hard shocks in store when they have to start paying rent and buying food, petrol and insurance out of their own money. Meanwhile some teachers complain that their pupils arrive at school too tired to meet any intellectual challenges. This is particularly true if the school day and a stretch of work are followed by a long session watching television or videos. In any event, working schoolchildren are often unable to take part in after-school activities. If parents will not limit the hours their children work, no one else will. The laws, both Federal and state, tend to be laxly enforced. Copyright—The Economist.