Some years ago I signed a work permission for my 15-year-old to work part-time so he could earn money for games and bicycles and such. A little over a year later, I found he was abusing the situation, hanging out with a bad crowd instead of working. I found that at the age of 16 he could quite school, work, drive, do whatever he wanted without any parental recourse – but as the parent I was responsible for him until he turned 18. The state (Connecticut) official I talked to said they have a big problem with young people in their early 20s who dropped out at 16, worked fast-food and other minimal part-time jobs until they realized what a dead-end they had put themselves into, and now were trapped since they had to work too many of these part-time jobs just to support themselves and needed help to finish school, and there was no help available for them.
When I was growing up, my parents had an unbending rule: we would go to at least one year of college. If we dropped out, we were on our own from that point on. No exceptions. Regardless of what the state said, that was the way it was. Our kids have the same rule.Oh, and sottwell, as the parent, you had the right to tell your 16-year-old that he/she was not allowed to drop out of school. You also had the right to refuse all access to a car. It’s amazing how much authority we actually do have over our teens, even when they are bigger than us.
I took a year off before I went to college to get work experience, and believe me it works; ‘cause now I’m in college and I have a job at a movie theater for the past three years.
I never found school so bad. Had to go to summer school in 5th grade because I was (still am) math inept. College was the best 4 years of my life. Then fire school and paramedic training and on and on.
I don’t know how long the school year is now but when I went it was 10 and half month’s long. Ranging from September all the way into half of June. (I’m here in NJ) NJ kids are in school longer than Congress is in session. Summer lasted from mid June to first couple of days of September.
sottwell about 13 years ago
Some years ago I signed a work permission for my 15-year-old to work part-time so he could earn money for games and bicycles and such. A little over a year later, I found he was abusing the situation, hanging out with a bad crowd instead of working. I found that at the age of 16 he could quite school, work, drive, do whatever he wanted without any parental recourse – but as the parent I was responsible for him until he turned 18. The state (Connecticut) official I talked to said they have a big problem with young people in their early 20s who dropped out at 16, worked fast-food and other minimal part-time jobs until they realized what a dead-end they had put themselves into, and now were trapped since they had to work too many of these part-time jobs just to support themselves and needed help to finish school, and there was no help available for them.
cdward about 13 years ago
When I was growing up, my parents had an unbending rule: we would go to at least one year of college. If we dropped out, we were on our own from that point on. No exceptions. Regardless of what the state said, that was the way it was. Our kids have the same rule.Oh, and sottwell, as the parent, you had the right to tell your 16-year-old that he/she was not allowed to drop out of school. You also had the right to refuse all access to a car. It’s amazing how much authority we actually do have over our teens, even when they are bigger than us.
psychlady about 13 years ago
The value isn’t always realized until it’s too late!
chasobrien about 13 years ago
Do they even make remotes with wires anymore? ;-)
Doctor11 about 13 years ago
I took a year off before I went to college to get work experience, and believe me it works; ‘cause now I’m in college and I have a job at a movie theater for the past three years.
NE1956 about 13 years ago
I never found school so bad. Had to go to summer school in 5th grade because I was (still am) math inept. College was the best 4 years of my life. Then fire school and paramedic training and on and on.
lightenup Premium Member about 13 years ago
I had a LOT more fun in my 20s than I ever did as a kid. There’s so much to be said for doing things my way.
michael.p.pumilia about 13 years ago
Gosh, Lightenup, that makes me think up a song title – I Did It His Way. Something like that. God won’t Mind; He likes His Name taken correctly.
Comic Minister Premium Member about 13 years ago
Once you graduate from high school or college you can stop there Clayton.
Shooter918 about 13 years ago
See also today’s “The Buckets”.http://www.gocomics.com/thebuckets
ComicsFan76 about 13 years ago
I don’t know how long the school year is now but when I went it was 10 and half month’s long. Ranging from September all the way into half of June. (I’m here in NJ) NJ kids are in school longer than Congress is in session. Summer lasted from mid June to first couple of days of September.