http://my.hsj.org/Portals/2/logos/__TFMF_ndb4sy55nkkwksmiuhxgavig_776bc184-347d-40f2-beac-f753d159c218_0___Selected.jpg en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:24:19 GMT 15 By Sierra Reaux-McNeil

After last year’s fiasco with D.C.’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which left many teen-agers without paychecks or without meaningful work to do, some students are reluctant to participate in the program this year. "All I did was go to Anacostia and watch the boys play basketball," Britney Garrett, a museum studies student, said. "First I was at P.R Harris but that got shut down." Last year, the program had administrative failings that resulted in some workers being overpaid and some workers being underpaid Some jobs set up were defeating the purpose of the program and some students were reassigned to new jobs. Mario Glover, a visual arts major, had a bittersweet job experience last year. " I taught an art class at Coolidge," Glover said. "It was kids ages six to 13. The kids weren’t really interested in the program so they shut it down. I went to a different job and took little kids to theme parks. It was fun because I got a free trip to go places." Kianna Shepperd, an instrumental music student, said that she participated in the program once and made that experience her last experience. "It was dumb," she said. "The next summer, I went to Africa." Jamal Cephus is one participant who had good things to say about his experience. "It was fun," he said. "I got paid to rap. I’m going back." ]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:31:15 GMT