Keep kids out of gangs; give them honest work
We have seen lots of suggestions on how to keep kids from joining gangs and out of trouble. Here is one of our own: When a neighborhood kid stops by and asks if he (or she) can mow your lawn — or rake leaves, or clean your gutters — hire him!
We were fortunate to be approached by a very polite and professional young man named TJ. He was soliciting for yard work, complete with a flier that boasted his motto of “making money the old-fashioned way.” We couldn’t have been more impressed with his work ethic and determination to make an honest buck, no matter how hot it was outside or how hard the work may be. His parents have obviously instilled in him a value he will carry for the rest of his life. But without the cooperation of the community, kids like TJ will quickly lose this motivation and turn to other ways to make money.
So, when opportunity comes knocking at your door, don’t turn them away. You might be doing more damage than you realize.
Steven and Susie Way
Greensboro
Comments (7)
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I can not even begin to tell you the things my wife and I do to keep our childern positive and busy during thier free time. We encourage the "opportunity" approach just a written above all the time. They enjoy the activity, earn money or allowences and acheive a sense of worth and a bond thru it.
High Five!
Posted on June 18, 2008 8:01 AM
We could also move to rid our state of illegal aliens.
Not only do they bring their own gang problems with them, but they take many of the jobs that teenagers would have done in the past.
Posted on June 18, 2008 11:42 AM
Absolutely, Earnestine! As kids, many of us did "jobs Americans won't do." I detasseled corn from sunup to sundown. Others milked cows, weeded gardens, mowed lawns, and watched babies. Now we have illegals to do those things and we are stuck with unemployed teens.
Posted on June 18, 2008 3:53 PM
I agree with you Earnestine and mamaboilermaker. I worked in a small restaurant when I was a teenager washing dishes and waiting tables for a dollar an hour. My four oldest children all were able to find jobs as teenagers but now my youngest has only heard back from one of the many applications he has put in and they did not hire him. I myself have been laid off since December and have not heard back from any of the applications that I have put in. I am willing to do any of those so called jobs that they say Americans are unwilling to do. One thing my parents taught me and my husband and I have tried to pass on to our own children is that we should never be too proud to take any job as long as it is legal. There is no shame in hard work.
Posted on June 18, 2008 4:18 PM
Ditto what Earnestine and mamaboilermaker say! Unfortunately, this aspect of the illegal alien issue (i.e. taking jobs away from our LEGAL teen citizens) is seldom discussed.
Posted on June 18, 2008 9:54 PM
CA, tell your son to check out buffet restaurants like Ryan's or Golden Corral. I walked in one and got hired that day as a dishwasher, and they're usually short on dependable folks.
Posted on June 19, 2008 12:20 AM
rahrah,
Thanks for the suggestion. He has applied at the Golden Corral in Burlington but has not heard back.
Posted on June 19, 2008 12:18 PM