I am worried

[DH's better half]

...my husband had a problem with a cashier at grocery store who tried to 'make change' because the computers were down....she just couldn't get it right, then got nasty to him when he tried to correct her. Mgr came over (because voices were starting to raise) and said "Well, you know, they're [the cashiers] all high school kids.
Husband said, "That's fine, but why don't you at least hire the ones that can graduate?" Mgr was amused, cashier was not.

[RNvic]

Jayne- it is sad to think of how many of the kids can't read or figure money. What are they learning in school. Are parents not working with children any more to teach them basic skills. we used alot of pennies at our house to learn to count.

[jayne]

money and knowing fruit come on who doesnt know a lime? with all the darn sonics in our area everyone should know what a lime is

[monster]

They are passing kids here who have no business being passed or graduated. This "no child left behind" business is the biggest bunch of crap I've ever heard of!!!

[Still in Limbo]

If the Computer or Cash Register doesn't Tell Our Teens what to do, they are Lost!! They can Fly down the High Way at 80mph., Smoking a Cigarette, Drinking a Power Drink, Texting Their Friends, and Driving, but they couldn't Make Change for a Dollar if it were to Save Their Lives!! Both Parents Working, No Parental Guidance, too much Time Killing Each Other on the X-Box that Allows them to Use Head Sets to Speak to Other Kids All Over the World as they Kill them on the Screen along with what I Posted above, and then the Parents Wonder what went Wrong with Their Kids?? This Country is in Bad Shape as these are Our Leaders of Tomorrow, I know All Kids aren't this Way, but the Majority is!! It's a Sad, Sad, Situation!!

[bronco54501]

So true so true.....When I went through school Phonics was a key to learning how to read. Here where I live if you have a teacher 40 or over your kids are safe at least in the early years. I have nephew that is 14 and has a third grade reading level. And his teachers did not use the same way to teach them as I had to me. They are not teaching them to sound out the words anymore, just by sight.. Now some of you's are going to say no way,,,, But I'm dead serious and my nephew is going to tutoring and she is in her early 50's and she is teaching him the old way and by god he is cathing on quick....

[chrischris]

The thing that bothers me the most is "customer service." It has gone to he** in a handbasket. It doesn't matter where you are, there is no such thing as the customer first anymore. And so many of the people that wait on you are so manner/etiquette impaired. (I can't think of the correct words I want to use right now. Memory shot!) I get so frustrated outside the home. Better just stay and do all my shopping and socializing on the internet.

[UndercovrAngel]

I have to agree with all that has been stated here. It is utterly ridiculous. My fiance works as a teacher in one of the schools here where we live. He (until this year as he finally got a new assignment) worked with students who just weren't cutting it in other classes (special ed, but not for those with outright disabilities). Most of the kids came from one parent homes where mom was in welfare, the kids have been in and out of juvie and just don't care. He was basically their last hope for getting their diplomas. It was a very stressful job for him, as he wasn't allowed to touch the kids, but they could swing at him any time they decided to.

Luckily, all three of my kids seemed to have gotten/ were getting good educations where they lived up in MI. I at least know that they are literate and can handle money.

As for customer service, I have basically worked in that field since I joined the navy back in '81. And regardless of what was going on, my customers always came first with me. Many told me that they thought I went above and beyond when it came to helping them. But todays kids (many of them.. I'm not saying all of them) don't have a clue about how to treat others, or care if they get things right. An example of this happened while we were on our latest trip. Fiance always orders his quarter pounders at McDonalds with no cheese- extra pickles. We stopped at the same McDonalds going to and coming back from our trip. Same kid at the counter. Both times I made sure to check the order before leaving the counter .. both burgers had cheese and no pickles. When I brought it to the attention of the kid at the register... his reply was "It isn't my fault. I'm not the one making the food." So I looked at the register receipt and showed him where he put the order in incorrectly. His smart aleck reply was " If you want it your way, go to Burger King." As his manager ( who happened to be a middle aged woman .. no smart a$$ kid) was sitting around the corner at that time, I told her exactly what I thought about her hired help, and I think that smart aleck no longer works there.

Angel ^j^