Comments on DC youth employment programs should focus on quality, not quantity - Greater Greater Washington

Comment by Joni

Fri, 01 May 2009 18:04:37 EDT

Amen, Martha! This is too much money to spend on a program that isn't proven.

Comment by Mark

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:26:46 EDT

I think the post's last point about combining work with skill training and support services to be key. Without that (and this is how it is currently run), it is simply a handout program that does nothing to benefit kids in the long run. In addition, it socializes children to view local government as a way to receive money for nothing. I think the summer jobs program could be better, but only if DC government chooses to ask for more and not simply make it another patronage program. Hopefully the new RFP will require job training, education, and skills education courses. I am somewhat skeptical though since Councilmember Barry and others have consistently used this program to recruit new votes and stay in power.

Comment by Michael Perkins

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:20:26 EDT

IMgoph: That's fair. How often do trees need watering in the summer, and how many can a team do in a day? Do we have enough adult leaders that can do this task?

Comment by IMGoph

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:56:50 EDT

michael: ok, if that's the case, have the kids in teams where there is an adult driver/team leader of sorts.

Comment by WestIndianArchie

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:40:08 EDT

The fact that the City needs to provide employment to teenagers is beyond the pale. Idle hands, et cetera...but even with that in mind they should be put to real work.

Comment by Michael Perkins

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:38:52 EDT

@IMGoph: Good idea, but I don't know if the city should allow teenagers to drive tankers around. Don't you have to be 18 to have a job that involves driving?

Comment by IMGoph

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:20:51 EDT

if there's any one thing i want to see come out of this summer's youth jobs program, i want to make sure that the city uses the kids to water street trees. i've seen it mentioned elsewhere, but i'll believe it when i see it. there's no reason we shouldn't be able to utilize a teenage workforce that probably would enjoy being outdoors in the summer to drive a tanker around and water all the trees on the street. we invest too much money in them to just let them dry, and we sure as hell can't trust citizens to water them, because, unfortunately, a lot of people just don't care or don't have the time.