Take Your Daughter (and/or son) to Work Day

Today is "take your daughter and/or son to work day." Initially this day's purpose was, "for girls to achieve their full potential, whether it is in the home, workplace, or community, boys also must be encouraged to reach their potential by participating fully in family, work, and community." Now the program has been expanded to include boys.

I think "take your daughter to work" is a great concept. I, myself, participated in this activity as a child and I learned a lot by going to work with my dad. But why must the day be scheduled during the school year? Kids (who participate in this program) typically have 3 months over the summer, 2 weeks off in December, and 1 week off in the spring, to go to work with parents. Their vacation time provides parents with amble time to take their children to work. Why take time away from the already short school year to do something that parents should insist on during one day of their kids' vacation? I mean, doesn't telling kids that they can dismiss their responsibilities as a child enrolled in school to skip classes send the wrong message?

According to the program, taking a child during a school day is an important part of the learning process. "Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day is organized during the school year so girls and boys can take what they learn in workplaces on Thursday and apply it to the classroom on Friday. By involving whole communities—schools, girls and boys, parents, workplaces, and mentors—the program helps young people make connections between what they learn in school and their future goals."

I don't buy it. Of course the program is a great idea and helps kids grasp the working world that their parents face everyday, but at whose expense is this program really benefitting?