Allowing your teen to get a part-time job in high school is a tough decision. For some parents, it is a financial necessity. For others, it is a sacrifice that takes the teen out of the house much too often. For most, however, it is more a question of whether or not the teen will get any value from the job or if working early in life takes away from the enjoyment of youth.

The decision you make should be partly dependent on what your teen wants and needs, but that should not be the only ...