As a teacher of economics, I often try to connect textbook theories with real-life situations that students can relate to. One topic that frequently sparks discussion is the link between unemployment and crime. When we talk about this in class, many of my students quickly agree: When young people can’t find work, especially after leaving school, some may turn to crime out of frustration or a need to survive.

It’s a sobering thought, but it’s real. We talk about opportunity cost, choices, and incentives and the reality is, if legitimate options seem limited, some may take desperate or dangerous paths. Our young people are smart; they see what’s happening around them. Some even joke that while unemployment leads to street-level crime, even highly educated people have been involved in “white-collar crimes” and financial scandals. It’s a bitter irony that’s not lost on them.

The classroom isn’t just for equations and diagrams, it’s a mirror of society. And what I’m hearing from students is clear: They want opportunities, not just lectures. They want to work, earn honestly, and have a future they can believe in.

We need to keep that in mind, not just in policy or news reports, but in the everyday decisions we make as a society. If we don’t provide meaningful opportunities for our youth, someone else might provide harmful ones.

kdavidson@meadowbrookhigh
school.net