Being in the field of Agriculture, I'm always interested in what's going on in the news and today I happened upon this little gem of a story.
I'm inclined to agree with the article. Landscaping and lawn/tree care isn't a job for kids. We all know that "most" kids, especially teenagers, feel they have this aura of invincibility about them...which is a scary thought even without them weilding weedwhackers or lawnmowers. Supervised by an adult, I'd still be pressed to day "it's okay", as accidents usually happen in the blink of an eye. I can already picture some kid mangling his/her hand by sticking it under a running mower. *cringe*
Alone, absolutly not.
Sure, there are kids who are capable of handling these sorts of jobs responsibly. Good for them. Parents should know their children and their limits. Sadly, most don't. I recently told my neighbors that my son wouldn't be able to feed their dogs or mow their lawn while they were away. He's not responsible enough to be trusted with a lawn mower, nor do I trust their dogs enough to let him feed them (they already bit one kid).
Any job requiring moving parts that have the potential to put out an eye, severe limbs, administer 3rd degree burns, isn't a job for kids. Instead, let them pull weeds, rake up grass, etc. Nothing wrong with that, and it's safe. Leave the more dangerous jobs for the adults.
Posted by Zoso at June 14, 2005 11:41 AM