I don’t think a day goes by when I don’t see another story about the price of gas--the way it’s affecting school districts, the economy, family vacations, and lifestyles in general. Take this story in the Los Angeles Times. It says that for the first time in nine years, gas has taken over apparel as the top expense for teens, according to a survey by Junior Achievement.
Although gas prices have begun to level off and even drop slightly, they’re still high and will most likely remain that way for awhile. I’m interested to see how this shift in expenses will affect students long term. Will it spark an interest in the study of conservation, alternate fuels, or energy efficiency? This article in the USA Today makes me think it might.
Beyond that, what driving habits might kids of this generation be picking up, and do they differ from their parents’? And will this new expense make teens want to pick up more hours at work, and if so, how will that affect their academic performance during the school year?
Like I said, I think this is a situation we’ll be dealing with for awhile, and I’ll most definitely be keeping on eye on the implications.