This is an issue that is too complex to fit into a this or that category and you both are making valid points. Things have changed a lot and there is lots of blame to go around. Fact: there are no jobs for those under 19 in any retail outlet that sells either liquor or tobacco by government fiat. Fact there are no jobs for white kids in government summer employment until the immigrant, first nation and alphabet group are taken care of. Those two account for a lot of summer employment and the later bleeds over into adult ages. Fact: there are few jobs pumping gas as self-serve has replaced many of them. Automation has eliminated car washes. Baby sitting now requires certification. Stores such as Jack Frasers, Blanches, and Reitman's to list just a few used to employ numerous kids. Their replacements, the box stores still do. But a single Walmart that employs a dozen students has replaced upwards of a dozen smaller stores that each would employ 2 or 3 so opportunities disappeared there. Fast food outlets have discovered the benefits of the temporary off-shore workers programmes. Did I miss anything?
I deliberately left agriculture off that last one because we have produced a generation that doesn't understand the meaning of the word work. There were 15 positions available at the greenhouses where my granddaughter found work. They were only able to staff 5. The others went to the children of landed immigrants. At least one of them I know works 7 to 12 in one greenhouse and then goes up the highway to a second where she works from 1 to 8. That's two jobs for an 18 year old, both at minimum wage.
I have almost an acre of grass to cut. I have never had a student place a note in my mailbox or knock on the door to ask if I would employ them to maintain my lawn. Student painters is now big business so no volunteers in that category either.
The responsibility for those last items rests with the parent. Perhaps because neither of them were home in the evening until after 5 or 6 they have never insisted that their children share in the household responsibilities. They haven't insisted that they get out of the house and look for work.
On another note, what is wrong with working two jobs? I did and I am pretty sure that many of you did as well. I had my career sure but starting pay is never that great and a newbie generally has huge expenses. That first car, an apartment, wardrobe etc. But all of us survived, most of us I would say have prospered or at the very least are more than getting by.
So there are lots of places to lay the blame. None of us have the whole picture and from what I have read here, known of you are wrong. My 2 cents
I deliberately left agriculture off that last one because we have produced a generation that doesn't understand the meaning of the word work. There were 15 positions available at the greenhouses where my granddaughter found work. They were only able to staff 5. The others went to the children of landed immigrants. At least one of them I know works 7 to 12 in one greenhouse and then goes up the highway to a second where she works from 1 to 8. That's two jobs for an 18 year old, both at minimum wage.
I have almost an acre of grass to cut. I have never had a student place a note in my mailbox or knock on the door to ask if I would employ them to maintain my lawn. Student painters is now big business so no volunteers in that category either.
The responsibility for those last items rests with the parent. Perhaps because neither of them were home in the evening until after 5 or 6 they have never insisted that their children share in the household responsibilities. They haven't insisted that they get out of the house and look for work.
On another note, what is wrong with working two jobs? I did and I am pretty sure that many of you did as well. I had my career sure but starting pay is never that great and a newbie generally has huge expenses. That first car, an apartment, wardrobe etc. But all of us survived, most of us I would say have prospered or at the very least are more than getting by.
So there are lots of places to lay the blame. None of us have the whole picture and from what I have read here, known of you are wrong. My 2 cents
