Not disagreeing, just raising a related point. Once upon a time, children were contributing as workers early in life (on the farm, etc). Then in their teenage y

Not disagreeing, just raising a related point. Once upon a time, children were contributing as workers early in life (on the farm, etc). Then in their teenage years. Now, many are still at home in their early- and mid-twenties pushing on after 12+ years of primary and secondary schooling to university and post-graduate qualifications. I think working earlier has a few advantages such as being able to cover own costs (reducing the burden on parents), getting practical experience sooner, working out whether you're even on the right path earlier, etc.