From: isilver@meena.cc.uregina.ca
Newsgroups: alt.parents-teens
Subject: Careers & teens
Date: 20 Aug 92 08:49:14 GMT
Organization: University of Regina, Regina, Sask., Canada


      I've spent the past 2 years as a high school career coun-
sellor, and previously, spent 10 years advising disabled workers
on career options. IMHO, lots of good advice has been expended in
answer to this question. I would, however, reiterate that one
should NEVER try redirecting a youngster:- i.e., don't nag the
kid to death if she hates math, and force her to take pre-calcu-
lus: just ensure she has adequate basic math. On the other hand,
if she adores math, PLEASE encourage her to the fullest. Also,
whatever you do, don't dismiss or ignore technical careers. In
our province, a competent electrical engineering technician
makes FAR more than an engineer, has half the schooling, and has
absolutely NO trouble finding a job.
      The importance of positive self-esteem and good problem-
solving skills cannot be overemphasised. Remember that it is
normal to change careers 2 or 3 times, so a sound, basic educat-
ion is essential. If a child can read, write and count with some
degree of expertise after graduating high school, she should be
able to handle almost anything.
      My list of useful subjects includes calculus, physics,
biology, psychology, and home ec; I don't encourage kids to take
industrial arts ("shop"), as most trades require grade 12 algebra
,physics, and English, and there just isn't ROOM in a well-rounde
d curriculum for every subject. I'd put phys.ed. on my alternate
list - it's vital to be fit and healthy, but competently-run
extracurricular programs should help with that. As for a second
language - it depends. If you live in Canada, it's VITAL to
take French; if you live in the U.S., it'd be appropriate to
study Spanish. Knowledge of an Indian language is never wasted.
      I assume that ALL schools require the student to take
English, History, and math.
      I started nagging my own kids about careers; all 3 of them
seemed to have little difficulty in focussing themselves, but my
oldest daughter went to a high school where there was little
direction given, & she's had to play catch-up a bit.
      While I'm rambling away, here, I want to point out somethin
g that drives me nuts. My mother-in-law persists in sending us
these helpful articles & brochures about how parents should help
their kids with their school-work. While it is true that younger
kids may need encouragement & supervision, older kids should be
learning to take control of their own lives. Nagging is good &
important (i.e., a generalized "Have you done your homework yet?
repeated ad infinitum is likely as much help as most kids need).
Kids need to be independent, & that includes failing on their
own merits. I am not referring, of course, to kids with learning
difficulties. Lessons in life that kids must learn, include
getting along with people they don't like (teachers, for example
whom they may detest), and meeting deadlines by themselves. When
your kid is a corporate lawyer, areyou going to call her up &
remind her of her next case deadline? I really think that a lot
of parents feel that their own adequacy is in jeopardy if their
daughter or son fails a subject. School is the one place where it
is safe (though not desirable!) to fail, and where one can undo
the damage one has done. THAT is an important lesson.
      Teenagers are under tremendous pressure nowadays - sex,
drugs, and lots of other peer stuff. Laying undue pressure on
them about SATs or GPAs or whatever, may rebound unduly. Better
your kid should go to the local community college (a noble
option, leading to real jobs), than be forced to aim for some
Ivy League school they neither want nor need. A job should be
a part of a fulfilling, satisfying life, wherein one can contrib-
ute in some fashion to the public good.
             Regards
                            Ian