Teens are capable and talented help

Anyone who has attended one of the recent high school drama or music productions knows that teenagers are capable of near-professional performances at difficult tasks when properly motivated and rewarded.

This was brought home to me once again on Thursday, May 8, when I served as honorary Sheriff during the Anderson Union High School Performing Arts Department's annual dinner and melodrama titled "The Secret of Cornbread Flats" or "How Many Beans Does It Take To End Up In Smithereens?"

Director Nancy Dutton and her battalion of volunteers put on a great dinner and a fabulous fun-filled show.

With the very capable assistance of my two deputies, Kim Chamberlain and Anderson Principal Scott Booth, we were able to raise $155 for the school's music and drama programs by walking folks to the on-set jail and then allowing them or others to post bail so they could return to their dinners.

For most hard-working teens, the payoff of applause and appreciation of family, friends, peers and acquaintances is usually enough.

Sure, the bouquets of flowers, framed photographs, video DVDs and commemorative T-shirts help out in the instant gratification department.

But long-lasting memories of hard work and good times are what really stick with the students.

South County employers would be well advised to take all of this into consideration this summer when making decisions on hiring temporary employers.

Your business likely has some lower priority jobs that regular employees aren't getting done on a regular basis. You will still need to find replacements for those full-time employees who will be taking a much-needed and well-deserved break. And the rush of summer business as tourists and travelers visit the area will still add stress on your normally efficient staff.

Yes, the economy is burrowing deeper underground and there still is no light at the end of that long, dark tunnel.

Yes, there are many qualified adults who also need work.

But if the only difference between applications is a person's age and level of experience, why not give a teenager a try. It might save your business some cash as the teenage will likely be a temporary or seasonal employee working part-time.

And it would definitely make a difference in that young person's life as they enter the work world for possibly the very first time.

One tip I would pass along to employers who are hiring, however.

Ask what types of activities the high school student enjoys.

If the teenager lists drama, music, student government, sports, FFA, 4-H or any of a dozen other school-related activities, more likely than not, you have found a diamond in the rough.

Whether bagging groceries, mopping up spills, cleaning tables or working in the fast food restaurant's drive-through window, these students are more likely to be self-motivated, understand the rudiments of business ethics and work especially hard for their pay, learning new skills and taking on more responsibilities as time, training and attention allows.

These students will repay their first-time employers with loyalty that is virtually unrivaled. The good will that the merchant or business will enjoy from family members and relatives, both local and distant, will reap extra sales for many years to come.

And the community will benefit as these young adults learn to give something back to the town in which they are growing up.

It is estimated that less than one-third of the nation's teenagers found jobs last summer, down from almost half that sought them in 2000. According to the Center for Labor Market Studies, teen participation in the summer job market has declined significantly during the past two decades.

In 1989, for example, nearly 60 percent of the teenagers seeking work had summer jobs.

Who knows, there might even be some federal government stimulus money available for hiring teenagers.

Why not give it a try at your business?