Everytime I go through a drive-through or other business that commonly employs teenagers, I often take the chance when opportunity presents itself to order something extra at the last minute & say something about how that will increase sales (or something else that makes sense at the time).
Usually, the teenager taking my order says something like, "It really doesn't matter to me, I get paid anyway."
Maybe this is just typical teen I-don't-care attitude. Or is it something more serious? It seems to me that teenagers don't have a realistic grasp on simple business economy, like...
more sales ---> more business ---> more need to increase employee working hours ---> employee enjoys a larger take home check.
Now, we might be tempted to say, "Oh that's just how teenagers are." But I will disagree. High School only became mandatory in the 1950s (USA). Before that, most young teenagers went to work or entered apprenticeship programs (work while you learn).
I would also say that most people can think of at least one successful person they know who didn't complete high school because they had to work or went into the military.
I think our society has allowed our teenagers to become too soft and too complacent. We have stripped our young people of the ability to learn how to become productive and responsible citizens, partly due to child welfare laws. By the age of 16, most teens couldn't care less about anything but their cell phones & hanging out with their friends.
In my opinion, young people as young as 12 & 13 need to be productively engaged in some sort of work, trade, or collegiate training that teaches them about real life economics.
I also see a huge need for Economic/Business/Wealth/Personal Development mandatory curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Philosophies like the Slight Edge, Think and Grow Rich, and Rich Dad,Poor Dad must be taught when children are young and still admire their teachers as heros and actually love going to school.
Of course, this is just my humble opinion. Thank you for allowing me to steop up onto my soap box. I'll get down now...NEXT!
