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