While teaching my students during virtual learning a recurring theme plays out almost daily. Many of my students are working. Their work schedules interfere with their school schedules and they are often front line workers.
When the pandemic forced statewide shut downs of everything but essential businesses many of my students were already called to action. The businesses deemed essential were not only hospitals, but also grocery stores, gas stations, discount stores and fast food restaurants. Family Dollar, Dollar General, Amazon, Walmart and Target all are essential businesses and all employ teenagers, many of whom are Black and brown. We teachers often hear students say they've missed online class because of work, some will even join a Zoom class from behind the cash register at work. More times than I can count this school year a student has been at work while in virtual class. They are trying to balance completing assignments, being present in class while also bagging groceries and stocking shelves.
When full time workers with children could no longer cover their shifts my students could step in because attending school was no longer a prohibitive factor. When employees got ill and had to stay home my students picked up more and more hours daily. When parents got sick and could not pull the full weight of supporting a household, some students would get multiple jobs to cover the gaps left by their parents. Also with less extra curricular activities open and available they have more time to work.
The jobs they have are necessary for our overall economy, as well as for our well being. They come into contact with more people than average and thus are at a much greater risk of sickness, but are an unseen population. This is often an untold story. A story of a subset population of minority teens 16 - 20 who are working almost full time hours due to high demand in this pandemic. Just shining a light on our youth in this pandemic. We don't want to overlook their risks and sacrifices.
When the pandemic forced statewide shut downs of everything but essential businesses many of my students were already called to action. The businesses deemed essential were not only hospitals, but also grocery stores, gas stations, discount stores and fast food restaurants. Family Dollar, Dollar General, Amazon, Walmart and Target all are essential businesses and all employ teenagers, many of whom are Black and brown. We teachers often hear students say they've missed online class because of work, some will even join a Zoom class from behind the cash register at work. More times than I can count this school year a student has been at work while in virtual class. They are trying to balance completing assignments, being present in class while also bagging groceries and stocking shelves.
When full time workers with children could no longer cover their shifts my students could step in because attending school was no longer a prohibitive factor. When employees got ill and had to stay home my students picked up more and more hours daily. When parents got sick and could not pull the full weight of supporting a household, some students would get multiple jobs to cover the gaps left by their parents. Also with less extra curricular activities open and available they have more time to work.
The jobs they have are necessary for our overall economy, as well as for our well being. They come into contact with more people than average and thus are at a much greater risk of sickness, but are an unseen population. This is often an untold story. A story of a subset population of minority teens 16 - 20 who are working almost full time hours due to high demand in this pandemic. Just shining a light on our youth in this pandemic. We don't want to overlook their risks and sacrifices.
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