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Just Google "midwestern work ethic."
This isn't a jab of any sort. But I understand many in this thread aren't getting the concept because the background is so very different here.
In my corner of the world, kids are considered downright lazy if they don't have a part time job by the time they're juniors or seniors in high school...
But all of this is what MAKES "midwestern work ethic"
Yes, every kid in all 12 midwestern states has a part time job by senior year in high school, and conversely,all the kids in the other 38 states are a bunch of slackers. Is that like some of Sarah Palin's jabs about "Real Americans"? Actually, I've heard many permutations of that term; I think it started out as "Puritan Work Ethic".
I lived in the midwest for 7 years; I'm married to a midwesterner. They're all different, just like everywhere else.
Just Google "midwestern work ethic."
This isn't a jab of any sort. But I understand many in this thread aren't getting the concept because the background is so very different here.
In my corner of the world, kids are considered downright lazy if they don't have a part time job by the time they're juniors or seniors in high school...
But all of this is what MAKES "midwestern work ethic"
I'll stick my neck out at this point and mention that my Midwestern high school peers who spent their evenings and weekends studying computer engineering and related fields rather than delivering pizzas into the wee hours are now forty-somethings making $200k and up as IT consultants, and they certainly aren't lacking a strong work ethic. They now live pretty comfortable lives in beautiful and thriving parts of the country, a rather big step up from our much maligned and rapidly deteriorating rust belt hometown. McJobs are over-rated for anything other than keeping teens busy and out of trouble.
Last edited by randomparent; 01-28-2015 at 10:11 AM..
And my midwestern high school peers did BOTH and still managed to become doctors, lawyers (the employed kind ) as well as engineers.
But really that has nothing to do with the *concept* of Midwestern work ethic.
And my corner of the world is also quite rural. I certainly wasn't claiming expertise on the entire midwest. lol
"Midwestern work ethic" is merely the term.
I think we have to be careful to differentiate between correlation and causation. Teenagers who independently seek out jobs in addition to handling heavy academic loads and extracurricular activities are demonstrating traits that indicate likely future success, but one doesn't necessarily lead to the other. Parents shouldn't panic if a teen resists a part-time job in favor of spending all his free time tinkering with a robot. That geeky kid just might turn into the next John Moore or Steve Wozniak.
And my midwestern high school peers did BOTH and still managed to become doctors, lawyers (the employed kind ) as well as engineers.
But really that has nothing to do with the *concept* of Midwestern work ethic.
And my corner of the world is also quite rural. I certainly wasn't claiming expertise on the entire midwest. lol "Midwestern work ethic" is merely the term.
I'm going to stick my neck out, as randomparent did and say that there's a subset of midwesterners who have a superiority complex that they're NOT easterners, or southerners, or "left-coast" dwellers. Some of them are members of my extended family.
Last edited by Katarina Witt; 01-28-2015 at 11:29 AM..
I'm going to stick my neck out, as randomparent did and say that there's a subset of midwesterners who have a superiority complex that they're NOT easterners, or southerners, or "left-coast" dwellers. Some of them are members of my extended family.
Just because someone is superior, doesn't mean they have a complex.
The thread about paying for cars and college brings up another question, one of children working part time and vacation time. Many parents, myself included, think it's good, or almost imperative, for their kids to learn the value of earning their own money and budgeting its use. I also believe that understanding that with a paycheck comes the responsibility of showing up for work on time and not believing that a ball game, party, concert or vacation is a viable reason to call in sick or not show up at all. This is a time for young people to spread their wings and learn how to handle an employer/employee relationship without parental interference.
I remember my oldest applying for a restaurant job where I knew the owner, she did not get hired right away and I saw the owner elsewhere about a month later. He brought up the subject and apologized for not hiring her but said he didn't want to be in the position to need to fire her if it didn't work out - I knew he was a tough guy to work for. I told him I understood but it would not be a problem for me, I said "hire her if you'd hire her without knowing me and fire her if you'd fire her without knowing me." She got hired and worked three summers, leaving on good terms. Her younger sibling ended up doing the same thing a few years later.
Do some people feel their kids don't need to work or shouldn't work because they don't need the money, don't want the hassle of transportation, don't want interference with other activities, or feel it demeans them to be waiting on tables, stocking shelves or pushing a broom? Is the experience and responsibility not important?
I can go either way. I mean getting good grades, volunteering, playing sports, hanging out with friends... are all very important for kids. If they are busy enough with that stuff, then I don't think a job is a big deal. If they are doing nothing at home and watching TV, then a job is probably a good idea.
I know it made a big difference in teaching me how to manage my time. I played football, baseball, and soccer in high school, and worked at Safeway, I did that for 4 years, into the summer before I went to university. Because I was already used to working and managing my time, I took a part time job that first semester. It taught me how to manage my money. I learned how to save. I got a reality check on the value of an earned dollar. I got my first checking account, which I still have 20 years later, and my first auto loan the day I turned 18. Bought a brand new Toyota 4x4, paid the insurance, and paid it off a year early...that pretty much jump started my credit rating.
The biggest reason that I wanted to earn my own, was to avoid having to ask the parents, and explain what I needed it for....fail!
The thread about paying for cars and college brings up another question, one of children working part time and vacation time. Many parents, myself included, think it's good, or almost imperative, for their kids to learn the value of earning their own money and budgeting its use. I also believe that understanding that with a paycheck comes the responsibility of showing up for work on time and not believing that a ball game, party, concert or vacation is a viable reason to call in sick or not show up at all. This is a time for young people to spread their wings and learn how to handle an employer/employee relationship without parental interference.
I remember my oldest applying for a restaurant job where I knew the owner, she did not get hired right away and I saw the owner elsewhere about a month later. He brought up the subject and apologized for not hiring her but said he didn't want to be in the position to need to fire her if it didn't work out - I knew he was a tough guy to work for. I told him I understood but it would not be a problem for me, I said "hire her if you'd hire her without knowing me and fire her if you'd fire her without knowing me." She got hired and worked three summers, leaving on good terms. Her younger sibling ended up doing the same thing a few years later.
Do some people feel their kids don't need to work or shouldn't work because they don't need the money, don't want the hassle of transportation, don't want interference with other activities, or feel it demeans them to be waiting on tables, stocking shelves or pushing a broom? Is the experience and responsibility not important?
My parents never required me to get a job, they grew up in a socialist country. I will absolutely require all of my kids to get a job if they are not satisfied with a nominal allowance. The mentality that "no work = no money" should be ingrained in kids' mentalities as early as possible, at least in America.
I don't but I am usually home by 4PM eastern time.
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) as well as engineers.
