Savanna Allen posted on October 27, 2009 06:21
Graduating high school is already stressful. Having a job definitely does not make it any easier.
In America, 66% of high school students are employed. Transitioning from one activity to the next and having to work during the school year is a difficult responsibility.
“I don’t get to do a lot on weekends because that’s when I work the most. It makes all of my homework get done on Sunday night,” Junior Jordan Engel said. There are already enough distractions from school, and working just adds to the list.
Nebraska’s laws restrict working hours for children under the age of 16. They can only work eight hours a day not during the school hours, and less than 48 hours a week. It also is not permitted for a minor to work later than 10 p.m. on a school night. On average a student will graduate by the time they are 17-19 years of age. Just because a student is a year or so over does not mean that they still aren’t in school. They have just as much home work if not more than the underclassmen.
“It’s totally different if you’re putting food on the table, but a students main focus should be school and money will come,” Teacher Anders Christensen said. Engel works because her parents make her.
If the teachers could come up with a plan – like creating a calendar with all upcoming assignments and publish it to the students, or set only certain days for homework the whole year – both students and employers would benefit as each would know schedules for work and school in advance. Each could plan around them accordingly for studies and labor time.
Getting homework in on time for the teachers is also a plus so they aren’t behind on grading and don’t have to hear excuses. So by having certain days and pre-assigned homework the students benefit as well. They get all of the money they need and have time for extra activities and school!