Kicking Back! (or my daughter's preferred title Kick A**!)
This is my daughter, or at least her foot, relaxing after a week of work at our Friday night BBQ! (Best on black)
Now for the rant! (I apologize in advance and there is no need to reply to it)
It was interesting to find out how few of her friends are working over the summer (she is 18 and both her and her brother have had summer jobs since they were 16, and local volunteer jobs before then), but most of their friends are either spending time at Universities taking higher classes,or on (paid for by their parents) service trips building schools in remote areas of the world. Both good and great in their own way, but I cannot help but feel it is all about padding their resumes for University applications. It seems a summer job is less well thought of these days, but I like what a summer job teaches teenagers and they definitely like getting a pay check, but so many of their peers look at them as being crazy for doing what they are doing. I still believe it is the right choice.
Great shot and title and I love the rant! Yes, both of my girls have had part time jobs while at school and then uni. I think it helped them to value what they bought and owned a little more and gave them a sense of responsibility. You are definitely right about the padding as both of my girls have taken on different volunteering projects for that very reason but as you say a worthy pursuit and they have learnt a lot through these too. I do not know about the USA but in Australia education takes up nearly all of their time, homework is so intense and time consuming and the quest for the ultimate score a must. Extra courses were unheard of in my day! Sometimes I fear students of today miss out because of this. Oh dear, now I'm ranting! Ha, great thought provoking shot :)
@dollycreek Thanks for your reply, it is interesting to hear about the similarities of the stress of the US and Australian education system as far as the intensity of education expectations when it comes to homework, grades and the ultimate score when trying to get into the universities, and I assume standardized exam scores (sorry I am not familiar with the Australian Uni application process) play a huge part too.I am half way there as my daughter was accepted to her first choice university, now I just hope my son can do the same. But at the same time I want him to both enjoy his summer and have the satisfaction of earning some money! Rant over for me!
Interesting point of view and well exposed. I will not add to the rant fest I'm likely to fill the page on how the UK education system has been systematically been ruined by point scoring politicians and how the ever increasing pressures of passing meaningless tests has reduced education from voyage of discovery to nothing more than a depressing stressful treadmill turning out more and more pointless degrees, oh no I did start!
Firstly, I like the shot and texture of the shoe. And I'm afraid the UK is matching everywhere else, where it's more and more education at the expense of learning about the real world. As you know my son joined the army college at 16, which is all he ever wanted to do. The education system were trying to persuade him to go and take more academic qualifications instead. His view was, what's the point. I also sat in on interviews at work for basic admin jobs recently. Three of the four candidates had degrees. They should be able to aim and do better than that surely. Or is it that the degrees they took are meaningless now?
@chippy1402 I do seem to have opened up a can of worms here, and like you could discuss the matter at great length. But I will stop before I start to rant again. Thanks for your comment Peter, always appreciated.
@carlt You are so correct in what you say, and though my daughter is going to University I do worry about her future. Here in the US student debt is a huge problem, but it seems without a degree it is very difficult to get the simplest of jobs (jobs that in my opinion do not require a degree), so what are students to do? Now I shall rant no more. Thanks for commenting Carl, and congratulations on your son and his chosen career path.
It is definitely a good choice. Nothing wrong with work. When I asked a 16 year old girl I mentored for confirmation last year if she was going on the church work camp that year, she said she had decided to get a summer job instead. I think she thought I would disapprove. I told her "Good for you." Both I and her mother commented on how we had both started working when we were 16. As for the photo, love the patterns!
@vstap I did not think that anyone would reply to my rant, and probably should not have bought it in here. Thank you for your comment on both my words and my photo!
Great shot , now to reply to the rant!!!
My kids (4 of them) started with paper rounds at the age of 14,completing them before school up at 6 am every morning including weekends. Then weekend and holiday jobs from the age of 16. They have chosen to do qualifications including degrees through their jobs. They all have an amazing work ethic which in this day and age is not the norm... I work with people their age so am coming from a place of knowing
They are also kind and thoughtful doing things for people because they can or want to, this is because like yours they were encouraged to volunteer to help without expectation of hand out or reward.
I am really proud of them all as will you be what you reap is what you sow
@chippy1402@carlt I agree with you although it sounds world wide now!! I used to be in the education system teaching, unfortunately it destroyed me too but having two children who were square pegs in a round hole as far as their teachers were concerned I watch that institution systematically take them apart. Interestingly they are both incredibly successful without a uni degree and well respected in their job roll my eldest is also currently holding down a very demanding job, has a nine month old girl and is completing an OU degree in his spare time. @ukandie1 oops what a can of worms you have opened .... Conference call any one???? ;))))
brilliant photo Andrea! love the textures and mood. Perfect title.
OK, I do not have children, but tend to agree with you. Children are always under the impression that 'money grows on trees' therefore they can have anything they want. As a good parent, you do give your child the best.
Therefore, holiday work is the first time the child will appreciate money and learn the value of it. This will be excellent lesson for life.
Give it a few more years. Your children will have good work and earn high salaries with luxuries they want (parents dream), the others who have not worked, will not be able to purchase any luxuries without debt, as they have not learnt the true value of money and how to respect it.
In my opinion, I agree with you. Yes, it might be a bit old fashion, but sometimes there are values in it.
Love this shot! Love the texture and B&W. I totally agree! I always worked as a teenager and it is just padding for their college resumes. I just read a very interesting article about this written by a Yale professor about how many universities are seeing through this and how we should value summer jobs such as waitressing. And whats wrong with helping out your own community if you want to do service work?
Fab shot, fab discussion opened up. My kids didn't do the uni route, Darren now has a seriously good career and Katie earns as much as several of her uni educated friends. To me, it seems like degrees are too common and more akin to managing to study while planning the next party night.
July 29th, 2014
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My kids (4 of them) started with paper rounds at the age of 14,completing them before school up at 6 am every morning including weekends. Then weekend and holiday jobs from the age of 16. They have chosen to do qualifications including degrees through their jobs. They all have an amazing work ethic which in this day and age is not the norm... I work with people their age so am coming from a place of knowing
They are also kind and thoughtful doing things for people because they can or want to, this is because like yours they were encouraged to volunteer to help without expectation of hand out or reward.
I am really proud of them all as will you be what you reap is what you sow
@ukandie1 oops what a can of worms you have opened .... Conference call any one???? ;))))
OK, I do not have children, but tend to agree with you. Children are always under the impression that 'money grows on trees' therefore they can have anything they want. As a good parent, you do give your child the best.
Therefore, holiday work is the first time the child will appreciate money and learn the value of it. This will be excellent lesson for life.
Give it a few more years. Your children will have good work and earn high salaries with luxuries they want (parents dream), the others who have not worked, will not be able to purchase any luxuries without debt, as they have not learnt the true value of money and how to respect it.
In my opinion, I agree with you. Yes, it might be a bit old fashion, but sometimes there are values in it.
I agree, work teaches you many valuable life lessons that class room cant .