School-to-Work Promoted Via Cartoons

Today, after watching the cartoon "Pepper Ann," my 9-year-old daughter asked me what a "career test" is. Since she is homeschooled, I knew she didn't learn about this at school, so I asked her where she heard about career tests. She explained that on "Pepper Ann," one of the characters, who is in 7th grade, had to take a career test in school to determine what her career should be. She said that the character, who is a vegetarian, was told that she should be a butcher. Even though she was disgusted at the thought of being a butcher, the school forced her to go to a job site (a butcher shop), where she fainted as she tried to do the required work. Pepper Ann was told she should be a teacher. Even though she didn't have any interest in teaching, she was also forced to do some teaching work, and found that she amazingly liked it.

This episode really impressed itself on my child's mind. She kept talking about it all day. I think it made her a little nervous at the prospect of being forced into a career. If she only knew...

Cyndi

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