Should 16-year-olds get jobs?

[darklordoftech]

Do you think 16-year-olds should get jobs?

[Mr. Reactionary]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

[dead0man]

"should"? no.

If they are otherwise doing fine in school and life and what not?  yes, it would be good for them.  Plus who doesn't like spending money?  It's why God made minimum wage jobs.

[wxtransit]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

And, in addition, many people around this age right now are innovating things to help society and the earth, such as the one who created a new solution to solving the trash problem in the Atlantic Ocean, and the countless others that have been in the news for developing life-saving drugs.

"Lazy good for nothings". Exactly.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

Part of that is because of the myth that you need at least a bachelor's degree to succeed.  You do need an education, but a good vocational college can certainly put those with the aptitude for it into a well-paying blue collar job or even a blue collar profession running their own small business.

[wxtransit]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

Part of that is because of the myth that you need at least a bachelor's degree to succeed.  You do need an education, but a good vocational college can certainly put those with the aptitude for it into a well-paying blue collar job or even a blue collar profession running their own small business.

But this isn't exactly a perfect end goal. In life, when you have the opportunity to do more, should you just settle for a blue collar job or a blue collar profession? Or what if you want to sustain a family, which is not exactly easy on the paycheck of a blue collar job (from experience)?

[dead0man]

He's talking about good paying blue collar job (of which there are legion).  By definition a good paying job can support a family.

[America's Sweetheart ❤/𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖙𝖞 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖔𝖗]

If they want to, yes. Of course they shouldn't be forced to.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

Part of that is because of the myth that you need at least a bachelor's degree to succeed.  You do need an education, but a good vocational college can certainly put those with the aptitude for it into a well-paying blue collar job or even a blue collar profession running their own small business.

But this isn't exactly a perfect end goal. In life, when you have the opportunity to do more, should you just settle for a blue collar job or a blue collar profession? Or what if you want to sustain a family, which is not exactly easy on the paycheck of a blue collar job (from experience)?

Depends on the blue collar job, just like it depends on the white collar job.  But the whole idea that being in a blue collar profession means you're "settling" is part of the insidious mind-set that leaves well-paying technical jobs going unfilled because of a lack of qualified applicants.

If we're going to make the real world more like Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above-average, then we need to not be forcing all our kids to pursue the same average.

[bagelman]

They don't usually need to.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

And, in addition, many people around this age right now are innovating things to help society and the earth, such as the one who created a new solution to solving the trash problem in the Atlantic Ocean, and the countless others that have been in the news for developing life-saving drugs.

"Lazy good for nothings". Exactly.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you think AP classes involve literally any degree of pressure, wait until you get a full-time job because that is 1000s of degrees tougher.

I worked 10 hours a week in high school. I thought that built a solid foundation for college jobs and internships. When looking at a resume for interns, I like to see that grit (i.e., probably not caddy-work but even that's something) as much as the GPA. I didn't have the toughest job. But having work experience is a gigantic plus. Way more than highly watered down classwork. Highly suspicious of people who don't.

[wxtransit]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

And, in addition, many people around this age right now are innovating things to help society and the earth, such as the one who created a new solution to solving the trash problem in the Atlantic Ocean, and the countless others that have been in the news for developing life-saving drugs.

"Lazy good for nothings". Exactly.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you think AP classes involve literally any degree of pressure, wait until you get a full-time job because that is 1000s of degrees tougher.

I worked 10 hours a week in high school. I thought that built a solid foundation for college jobs and internships. When looking at a resume for interns, I like to see that grit (i.e., probably not caddy-work but even that's something) as much as the GPA. I didn't have the toughest job. But having work experience is a gigantic plus. Way more than highly watered down classwork. Highly suspicious of people who don't.

1. I don't, that was more intended towards the IB program, which I was a part of.
2. I work (and have worked) in a full-time job.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

Technicalities...

[wxtransit]

Technicalities...

True, but the IB program is quite a bit more time consuming than the AP program, given its strict requirements, unless something's changed.

[Virginiá]

If it was my children, it would depend on their current situation. Are they on track for college / want to go? If so, I'd rather they focus on picking up useful skills and learning than flipping burgers or bagging groceries. I mean if they wanted to do that for some money, sure, but point still stands.

If they had no intention of going to college, I'd want them to get a part-time job or internship for a while so they are more prepared for the world. Although 16 does seem more like an optional year. I'd be more pushy on this if they were 17.

[Meclazine for Israel]

Yes,

As others have said, their education is the most important component, but a simple meet and greet retail job would help a lot.

[Santander]

Yes, it is both a rite of passage and necessary introduction to "real life".

[DINGO Joe]

But then who will post on Atlas?

[Lachi]

I think 15 is a good minimum age, it works very well here in Australia.

[Lechasseur]

If they want to, why not? But I don't think they should have to get a job.

[Robert California]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

Part of that is because of the myth that you need at least a bachelor's degree to succeed.  You do need an education, but a good vocational college can certainly put those with the aptitude for it into a well-paying blue collar job or even a blue collar profession running their own small business.

But this isn't exactly a perfect end goal. In life, when you have the opportunity to do more, should you just settle for a blue collar job or a blue collar profession? Or what if you want to sustain a family, which is not exactly easy on the paycheck of a blue collar job (from experience)?

Ridiculous. There are tons of low-paying white collar jobs that tend to not be compared to legitimate routes to material comfort enjoyed by the “working class”.

[wxtransit]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

Part of that is because of the myth that you need at least a bachelor's degree to succeed.  You do need an education, but a good vocational college can certainly put those with the aptitude for it into a well-paying blue collar job or even a blue collar profession running their own small business.

But this isn't exactly a perfect end goal. In life, when you have the opportunity to do more, should you just settle for a blue collar job or a blue collar profession? Or what if you want to sustain a family, which is not exactly easy on the paycheck of a blue collar job (from experience)?

Ridiculous. There are tons of low-paying white collar jobs that tend to not be compared to legitimate routes to material comfort enjoyed by the “working class”.

But what if you want to work in neither a blue nor white collar job?

That's certainly an option.

[Robert California]

Yes! The lazy good for nothings ...

Yes! So lazy, in fact, from spending most of their day doing endless projects, reports, papers, and assignments, and tests from high-pressure classes in programs such as AP and IB as this generation is under much more pressure to succeed (so much pressure that many have broken down emotionally, some to the unfortunate point that they take their lives) and go to college while older generations were able to get by with less.

Part of that is because of the myth that you need at least a bachelor's degree to succeed.  You do need an education, but a good vocational college can certainly put those with the aptitude for it into a well-paying blue collar job or even a blue collar profession running their own small business.

But this isn't exactly a perfect end goal. In life, when you have the opportunity to do more, should you just settle for a blue collar job or a blue collar profession? Or what if you want to sustain a family, which is not exactly easy on the paycheck of a blue collar job (from experience)?

Ridiculous. There are tons of low-paying white collar jobs that tend to not be compared to legitimate routes to material comfort enjoyed by the “working class”.

But what if you want to work in neither a blue nor white collar job?

That's certainly an option.

I’m not quite prepared to chase after my dream job of being a park ranger in the PNW, but it’s a possibility, I suppose.

[muon2]

I don't think 16-yos necessarily need to get jobs, but it does help them to have tasks that develop work-related skills. Working for neighbors at baby-sitting, pet-sitting, or lawn care teach dependability and reward for good services rendered, as well as taking direction from someone other than a parent or teacher. If there are opportunities to do that through formal employment that can be fine, too, and that includes everything from part-time work at local museums and libraries to regular hours at a restaurant or grocery store. At various times in HS I worked both for informal employment from neighbors and flipping burgers.

[john1565]

Society should be in such a state that 16-year-olds don't need to work for money. However, there should be opportunity to work to increase skills, out of passion, and so on.