EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PROVES BENEFICIAL TO ALL

A Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School program designed to help young people get their first job and learn employment skills is a noteworthy example of government trying to do something about the nation's unemployment problem.

Funding for the Summer Youth Employment program, aimed at people 14 to 21 years of age, comes from the Private Industry Council. The program, which serves Cape Girardeau, Scott, Bollinger and Stoddard counties, recently was enlarged to involve 40 students. It previously served 25.

Participants are economically disadvantaged people those most likely to face problems finding and maintaining a job. For some of the older participants, the program serves as a transition between school and work and leads to its ultimate goal of landing them full-time jobs.

One day a week is spent in the classroom, where job search skills and career exploration are taught. Participants also discuss questions or problems they might be having on the job.

The 15 participating employers all non-profit agencies benefit from the program by getting workers at no cost to them during the summer months, and the students are paid $4.25 per hour minimun wage. Many schools, including Chaffee, Advance and Delta, take advantage of the program, putting participants to work on maintenance and renovation projects while school is not in session.

The program is a common-sense approach at preparing people who might not be able to prepare themselves for the job market. It is basic training designed to teach participants the skills needed to search for and get a job and the responsibilities that go with holding a job.

The program is beneficial to all involved and is one example of what government can do to help disadvantaged people become productive citizens.