DISTINCTIONS ARE DRAWN BETWEEN WORK AND EMPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND PARENTS TO ENCOURAGE YOUTHS TO VIEW THEIR FIRST JOBS AS MORE THAN A MEANS OF MAKING MONEY IS NOTED. THE GENERAL DECLINE OF FAMILY AND SOCIAL INFLUENCES ON YOUTH AND THE EMERGENCE OF THE SCHOOL AS POLICE, PARENT, NURSE, ADVISER, AND MORAL GUIDE ARE DISCUSSED. DECLINES IN SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCORES AND FACTORS CITED BY A NATIONAL COMMISSION AS POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE DECLINES ARE NOTED. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE EMPHASIS ON ELECTIVES OVER BASIC COURSES, ESCALATING ABSENTEEISM, GRADE INFLATION AND AUTOMATIC PROMOTION, LESS HOMEWORK, UNDEMANDING TESTS, INCREASING DIVORCE RATES, AND TELEVISION'S ASSUMPTION OF THE SURROGATE-PARENT AND SUBSTITUTE-TEACHER ROLE. THE NATURE OF THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION AND THE PRINT MEDIA ON YOUTH IS DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT FEELINGS OF HOPELESSNESS, SPAWNED IN PART BY THE CONTENT OF THE DAILY NEWS, MAY BE A PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYMENT-RELATED PROBLEMS ARE IDENTIFIED: ADULTS' PREOCCUPATION WITH THEIR OWN EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS AND FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH; SCHOOLS' FAILURE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT WORK OPPORTUNITIES; SHORTCOMINGS OF FEDERAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS; LABOR LAWS THAT HANDICAP YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS; AND INSUFFICIENT JOBS WITH CAREER POTENTIAL FOR YOUTH. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS, ENCOURAGING THE CAREER EDUCATION MOVEMENT, EXPANDING THE JOB SKILL DEVELOPMENT ASPECTS OF FEDERAL YOUTH PROGRAMS AND DEVELOPING LOCAL MECHANISMS FOR CONTINUING THE PROGRAMS AFTER THEIR FEDERAL FUNDING EXPIRES, ALTERING LAWS THAT LIMIT YOUTH EMPLOYMENT, AND PROVIDING TAX INCENTIVES FOR HIRING YOUTH. (LKM)