I don't want ds to do work experience.

I'm with QF

sorry but I really don't get the planet you are on

To dismiss so many good contributions with the mines post. Really???

Now I think of it, an Oxbridge senior tutor did mention that he liked to see his students doing summer jobs, including menial filing work, because it gave them experiences they might not otherwise have.

I did WE from 14 for a couple of weeks every summer which was instrumental in getting a training contract after I finished law school years later. I also worked (earning a bit of money) doing unskilled jobs during the summer holidays which taught me loads about work. Did me a power of good and I would encourage my boys to do exactly the same.

I agree with others that say that working in a greasy spoon and similar jobs give give a good grounding for anyone.

I wouldn't want to employ anyone who had the attitude that they were above any type of work. In almost all jobs you have to start at the bottom and do the boring turning the handle stuff before getting onto the more interesting stuff. I

"Anyone got a mine that needs reopening? There's a bunch of 14 year olds needing life experience."

Are you a little bit dim?

"I've done enough shitty jobs as a schoolgirl to know that I don't want my kids to have to do them "for fun" "

It's not about you, it's about him. Just because you did them, doesn't mean he shouldn't! And I don't think anyone on this thread has described WE as fun. The overwhelming view seems to be that it can be a hugely beneficial experience.

I do think you're being a bit precious and snobby about this, I'm afraid. It will do your son good to have this experience.

For what it's worth, my son decided not to go to university. The experience he gained on his school placement gave him something to talk about at his first job interview for which he was very grateful. He got the job.

So let him have the experience, so he can learn from it, like you did.

Why not get a tutor in now already?

Our son (year 5) will get private tuition after Christmas, once a week.

Well I'm vehemently opposed to the way unpaid workfare programmes are being implemented and described as "Work Experience." (The key issues being the length of the placement, what the "worker" gets out of it and whether the "employer" is making a net gain.)

But I think real Work Experience can be absolutely brilliant ? including the "it's booooooring" experiences. And the students I've supervised in my workplace have always said they got a lot out of it.

"No I don't deliberately go out of my way to sound precious. Just that washing up in a greasy spoon without good reason isn't what ds has planned for his life nor is it what I'd envisaged for him. "

You really do come across as extremely toffee nosed and entitled.

If you want him to learn the value of work, even hard work, and understand good work ethics, you better come down from your high horse here!

I stacked shelves in the library when studying, I also pulled pints in a bar.

My husbands first job was as a kitchen porter. He worked relentless 12 hour shifts. He learnt humility, and good work ethics. He is now the md of a global company. There is absolutely nothing wrong in working in a greasy spoon, or work as a kitchen porter, or supermarket.

Handing your son the world on a silver plate, might not do him any favours, might not build his character or stamina, might not prepare him for actual real life.

I think maybe the OP could do with some work experience actually - anybody run a greasy spoon?

And if your ds thinks that getting a job is all about sending an email, and waiting for work to fall into his lap (like you have engineered for his later work placement) then I fear he needs this experience even more!

OP,
Do you think that your ds is destined for university, and thereafter a career in business or academia, and therefore need extra tutoring rather than work experience? And work experience is for the "lowly" people who decided to not enter university education?

If so, you are once again glaringly wrong! Learning to maneuver through work, and work politics, keep time, show respect and learn customer service skills, is important whatever you do. Maybe especially if your ds is going to spend a considerable amount of time in education.

Also, your DS is surely old enough to make the decision as to whether he feels it is worthwhile. He is going to be the one, if you prevent him doing the work experience, who will have to explain to college admissions officers, future employers, and his peers who doubtless will be chatting about their own experiences that "I didn't do it because my mum didn't want me to".

Regardless of the benefit he may or may not gain through work experience, this first experience of work is a milestone in his life that all his peers will be going through. Are your own feelings really so important that it is worth preventing him meeting that milestone at the same time as his peers?

Many students I know come back from Work Experience complaining about HOW BORING it is.

It's one of their most valuable lessons they will ever ever learn.

And make sure DS gets on to those greasy pots at home. They don't wash themselves.

Then when he is the surgeon general/archbishop of Cantebury/the PM/the next Young Apprentice he may be a tad less condescending than his mother.

the best placement visits I did was to an Undertaker's, where I learned all about how they prepare the body for burial or cremation. I got the impression that, in a profession where the whole point is to make the process seamless and to take the thinking away from families, he was really grateful for the opportunity to show just exactly what it does take.

I also enjoyed the placement to the London Underground train garage...really interesting stuff...even though I have no intention of doing eith of these jobs myself!!!
both placements were specifically requested by and sorted by the students and their families.

Perhaps it would benefit your DS to spend two weeks washing up in a greasy spoon, Alouiseg?

Of course you don't want him to end up doing that for the rest of his life, but it wouldn't do him any harm at all to learn how privileged he is.

Bloody phone. I give up.....

Oops, sorry ignore 1st post. Bl

I spent a lot of my spare time as a student working in a great spoon Happy Eater. It was a great laugh.

I went on to Uni, then took professional qualifications, had 15 years at a top firm and now run my own business. I remember my catering days with great nostalgia.

You really do seem to have an odd attitude to anything other than academic success. I do hope your DS can think outside the box a bit.

I did my work experience in an air traffic control centre, it was cool. I ended up studying aeronautical engineering at Uni, but now work in finance. Wish I'd tried to get into air traffic control now...

OP you are a loon.

I missed that post Bunbaker, that's really