Wakatipu High’s new principal wants students to keep a balance between their school life and any part-time work they might have.
Oded Nathan (pictured) says he completely understands how valuable student labour’s been to many short-staffed employers, and how their
wages may be helping out their struggling families in today’s climate.
However, addressing parents/guardians in a recent e-newsletter, he notes students ‘‘working quite long hours … can have an impact on both
their schooling and their involvement with extra curricular activities’’.
He’s asking they support their student to ‘‘find the right balance’’ to ensure work’s not having a negative impact on their school work, and/or
ability to engage in the wider school life.
Nathan adds: ‘‘From what I understand, the wages some of these kids are making is pretty hard to pass up, too.’’
Students working 10 to 12 hours a week, he suggests, ‘‘feels reasonable’’, but he also wants employers to be mindful if their student employees have extra pressures.
He’s had many emails from employers who’ve been so appreciative of the students they’ve employed.
‘‘I don’t want to come across as being unsupportive of the community and the businesses, ’cos that’s definitely not the intention — it’s just
making sure the balance is right.’’
