Working Students

One potential element of “Jobs Outside High School Can Be Costly, Report Finds” (Nov. 6) was neglected. The article preferred to dwell on consumerism as the reason many of these students work--the frivolous desire for new clothing, entertainment, etc. The sad fact is that many of these working teens are the partial, or in some cases, sole support of their families.

The pressures placed on these “children,” who often would have been the better students, is tremendous. They and their families, often unemployed single-mother households, are well aware of the sacrifices being made, but there is no option--an education for the future versus paying the rent and utilities and for food on the table now.

DEBRA L. WILEY

Inglewood