Save Small Businesses by Giving Students Credit

Question: We wanted to eat in the dining room of a fast-food restaurant, but they offered only take-out and delivery. They said they didn't have enough employees to open the dining room. How can life get back to normal?

 Dear Friend,

Everyone is anxious for life to return to something they remember as "business as usual." When the lack of employees came to my attention again today, a new idea came to mind.

Work-age eligible high school students could be given a job in a restaurant, local business place, small office, automotive store, or another place of employment. They would take a course in business at the high school that has both high school and college credit. Classes for school-age students and taught by a teacher, would have no fee like a college course would. The high school teacher could present ...

how to dress on the job, 

how to be a responsible employee- showing up and time-off requests, etc, 

how to count change (it's amazing how few can), 

appropriate behavior with other employees and workplace harassment,

interacting with patrons (the customer's always right), 

telephone etiquette, 

tax forms and filing responsibilities, 

workplace mature behavior when friends and attractive people enter,

respect for the elderly,

balancing work, school, homework, family, and social life,

and on-site visits by the teacher.

Many more - these just come to mind.

The teacher could lecture, have role-playing sessions, lead visits to businesses, and assign a paper - either written, verbally delivered, or a video presentation with testimonials from others regarding the student's work.

These brain-storming ideas took no pre-thought. Think about a course that has been carefully planned and quickly implemented. Students would benefit ((money from their job, high school and college credit, and pride in their work). Businesses would benefit by opening up again. And patrons would be thrilled to see their community at work again.

Enjoy your reconnection with your community.

Doris

Copyright 2021 Doris Gaines Rapp

I Don't Speak Geek

 Question:  What do you tell the arrogant geek who condescendingly pretends to help you with your computer issues?

Dear Friend:

On August 5, I posted I Don't Speak Geek to my Facebook page. It sounds like it is perfect for you, too.

I don't speak geek. When the one on the phone ... gives a superior tone ... Reply on your own ... with a patient drone ... I don't speak geek. Maybe English or French ... or professions advanced .... but your rapid-fire lingo ... Just has to go, 'cause ... I don't speak geek. Doris Gaines Rapp 

Remember, you earn a passing grade in a college course by learning its vocabulary. Whether it's a foreign language, a psychology course, mathematics, or whatever, each subject has its own vocabulary. Computers have their own vocabulary as well. If you haven't studied computer science, you don't know the geek lingo.

When you ask for help from someone regarding your computer, and you cannot understand them, it probably isn't your fault.  You may even feel sorry for their inability to talk about their field of experience. The geek you are speaking to has a very limited glossary of terms in other subjects and has no people skills. Speak slowly and politely, explaining your needs in detail using your own professional lexicon. Perhaps the geek will be able to catch up to you and find other words to explain your computer's function.

Accept the fact that you are not inferior because your computer skills are limited. The problem is that the "computer tech" does not understand computers well enough to explain them to those too busy to learn another language. Be patient with the techie. Try to hold down your frustration. It seems many,  gifted in computers, can't explain them to others.

Happy computer use.

Doris

Copyright 2021 Doris Gaines Rapp