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Honestly - working crap retail and food service jobs during high school was as much (or more) valuable education than what I learned in school. Certainly motivated me in college to study and work hard. The value of working is not only in the money earned, and I will force my children to get part-time jobs during high school.

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I feel similarly, but I think a big part of that is that my schooling was so bad. Ideally I'd have not had to work and actually been learning something (and that's the goal I have for everyone, as a collective political desire).

On the other hand, I notice people who didn't have to work as kids and went straight into college and respectable white collar jobs usually have absolutely no idea how the rest of their fellow citizens actually work and live, so I'm thankful for the perspective.

Why make your kids earn a profit for someone else? They should be learning and hanging with friends. You didnt learn more working fast food than in school. You hated it which motivated you. Not everyone needs to experience fast food to know its not a great career outcome.

My friends that worked hard while at school or studying have been relatively successful. They just seem to be more focused to earn money.

The counter-examples I can think of involved drugs or health issues.

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