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Working While In High School

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Working While In High School
How does working while in high school affect high school students? There are many differing opinions both positive and negative regarding the effects of working on academic success. Working while in high school is a necessity for some in order to pursue higher education. It teaches responsibility and budgeting. However, on the flip side, there are many who would debate that teenagers in America who work during high school experience negative effects on their high school success such as, no social life, less time spent on homework and diminished academic success. (Miller) Additionally, compared to peers in Europe and Asia, American teens spend triple the amount of time working. For these reasons having a job during high school can be tough on a student’s development toward independence.

Many American students believe that employment is an integral part of their high school experience. Working part-time teaches students responsibility and time-managements. Additionally, working can teach students how to budget their money for the future; and can also help pay for college. Securing a part-time job in an area of a future career interest may benefit a high school student in determining if pursuing a career in a particular field is best for them.
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More than triple the average amount of time their European and East Asian peers spend working. (ASCD) Researchers have taken different routes on examining the issue of employment and how it affects student’s outcomes and have resulted in a large amount of different conclusions. One the negative side of the argument, studies have shown that students who work achieve at lower levels academically, have lower academic and career aspirations, and are less likely to engage in extracurricular activities. The bottom line is that we need to better monitor and limit the number of hours high school students work during the school

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