How would you respond if your child told you they wanted to drop out of school?
By gapeach65
@gapeach65 (805)
United States
March 20, 2007 9:24am CST
If had a child who was a senior in high school and was weeks away from graduation, and told you they were dropping out and just going to get their GED, how would you respond? I am going through this situation now. My son isn't doing well in one class, and without a passing grade may not be graduating with his class, and has been talking like dropping out is a possibility. I've told him, that it's not going to happen, that he needs to get his high school diploma. I told him "Quitting school is not an option". He may be 18 but he still lives under my roof and he knows I won't allow that. He argues that he can get into some colleges with just a GED, I've told him, that might be true, but when looking for a job, most employers look for a diploma not a GED. I'm working on finding a tutor for him (I think I have found someone willing to help). He said he can go to summer school to pass the class, although he should have tried harder at the beginning of the semester, I've decided that summer school is fine, if he'll commit to it and pass the class. Since he's the one who didn't do his best in school (he got lazy and nothing I or his sister, who's 22, said to him worked)and summer school is expensive, he will have to pay for some of it. What would you or have you done if you were in the same situation? Thanks in advance for any comments.
3 people like this
19 responses
@KrishnaVeera (4133)
• India
20 Mar 07
As my opinion let him to do according to his interest and first try to give some smooth suggestions, because he is young, young generation will not accept their parents and elders suggestion but there is a way to teach, give some of your life examples what was bad things happened your life, if his interested to go for summer class it would be great it is showing till his interested in education doing work along with education really good because i can earn the money for to pay his education fee, and as a parents let them to do in which field they are interested to grow and settle their life, if we won't let they will showing their finger by future if their are in trouble, hence let him to do according to his direction. I hope you may feel hurt in my reply, but what to do according generation we should follow.
@gapeach65 (805)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Thank you for you reply. I think he's finally realizing that a diploma is better than a GED for his future.
@KrishnaVeera (4133)
• India
22 Mar 07
Yes, as per his decision. let him to take his own decision it will help his future. bcz his life is in his hand.
1 person likes this
@catcai (1056)
• Philippines
20 Mar 07
For me, i would opt the summer class- if he still wants it though- and i would have to come to a compromise with him, that he's supposed to share his part of the expenses during his summer school- besides he's 18 and i think old enough to be responsible for his own studies if not- then to just assist in any way he can.
The most important factor here, is that, HE has to want to go to it, be responsible enough to attend to it- in order to pass, cuz if he doesnt want it then i dont think its gonna work. I just hope he realizes the value of having a diploma.. =) goodluck! i hope he just passes the subject and graduates with the rest of the class =)
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
21 Mar 07
I would be pretty mad if it was my child. If you son is only weeks away from graduation, I can't understanding his thinking on this?
The trouble is, you can't make him. You will just have to explain to him the consequence of the choices he makes.. are HIS consequences, not yours.
The summer school may be a good idea, but like you said, he will need to help pay for it.
The tutor is also a good idea, and with any luck, yoyur son will decide to spend his remaining few weeks at school, with the tutor helping him. Good Luck.
1 person likes this
@gapeach65 (805)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Thank you for you response, We are working on finalizing hiring a tutor I have also talked to his teachers (which he didn't like, but oh well, I needed to know if she thought a tutor would help) she told me that it may help him to pass, he still needs to do the work too.
@dreed9554 (13)
• United States
25 Mar 07
Well I do not know but I would try to get him/her to stay in school. My daughter wants to finish but not willing to do the work, she talks of all these dreams that she has and I tell her that she will have to finish high in order to do those things. When they are teenagers the think that they know everything about life we were all that way. My daughter has had it rough the 2006/2007 school year, because I was diagnosed in may of last year with ovarian cancer and she has had take of me though the chemo treatments plus her school work and going to school. I guess you could say that texting on cellphones is the only thing that jept her at school that is the only way she knew I was ok while she was at school. If she wanted to quit And go into home school and get her diploma would be ok.
1 person likes this
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
I believe I will do what you did..For me education is very important..I want all my children to graduate with flying colors..It is very hard to look for a job..so i believe education is the only way to the top...
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
21 Mar 07
I think personally if Summer School is an option, then go for it.
He's going to need his diploma and so any way he gets it has to be a good thing instead of just dropping out and calling it quits.
I agree that he should have tried harder at the beginning of the semester, but unfortunately, kids get lazy and by the time they realize that if they fail they don't graduate, it's too late.
Make him pay for some of Summer School. He has to realize that by not putting the effort in when he's supposed to, there's going to be retribution.
I wish you luck.
1 person likes this
@chenvstony (365)
• China
21 Mar 07
If your child wants to go to the summer school indeed then you'd better try your best to let him take lessons there.If he just want to waste his time again,then you please save your time and energy,just let he go.He will face a lot of difficult in the society then he will know you are right and want to study hard indeed.At that moment,you can give him a hand.
@runner0369 (641)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I think you are doing the right thing. I dropped out of school in 8th grade and my parents forced me to go back. I was really angry with them at the time but now that I am in college I am so glad they forced me to finish school. I would not have been able to get into the college I wanted with a GED. So do anything you can to get him to get his diploma because he will thank you later (it might take him awhile though, be patient). Good luck!
1 person likes this
@runner0369 (641)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I think you are doing the right thing. I dropped out of school in 8th grade and my parents forced me to go back. I was really angry with them at the time but now that I am in college I am so glad they forced me to finish school. I would not have been able to get into the college I wanted with a GED. So do anything you can to get him to get his diploma because he will thank you later (it might take him awhile though, be patient). Good luck!
@harsh_h2o (20)
• India
21 Mar 07
i would have tried to understand the problem wat the child is facing
if the child is having tiff with teacher i would have tried to resolve it
but if the things go worst i would have changed the school
1 person likes this
@neglitex (347)
• Latvia
20 Mar 07
As a student myself I know things like this, and thank God I understand how education important is! If my parents do not agree with me and start yelling on me, I won't listen to them FOR SURE!!! Don't yell at him! one thing that work almost every time on me is, when my mum says to me "Fine! Don't do (whatever it is)" then I have this strange feeling and I usually give up. If nothing works.....find help from professionals. If your son understands how education important is, his grades will increase in NO TIME! understanding help in everything.
Hope this helped a bit!
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
20 Mar 07
I agree with you on this one. It is not an option in my house. You will complete schooling. I homeschool my chidlren so I don't think I will ever run into this problem. We do the basics everyday, but then I let them decide what they would like to learn more about.
My son is learning about robots, how they work and is building on from directions he got from a site on the internet. He is 7 years old.
My 8 year old daughter, has been studying about plant life. With my help she is going to plant a veggie garden and some flower this spring and is going to document it daily, because she wants to see if maybe her love for plant life can turn into something else.
My 10 year old loves animals. She has been learning everything she can about them. From their organs, and muscles. To how many different kinds of animals are in a species. She also volunteers at an animal recuse. She thinks she wants to be a vet.
Letting children discover their passions is the best way to keep a love for learning. I think a tutor is good idea. Don't let him drop out, he will regret it later in life. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but in 20 years he will have regrets over it if not sooner.
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
20 Mar 07
Would have a grand conversation not that it would get to this point. Summer school is indeed the last ditch effort for the diploma. Ged is second class in the work world. So summer school it is. Also since it went this far yes he should pay most of it if not all of it. Working can be competitive and he needs to learn that the best is what will get him the job he wishes for and to earn his way is the best way. Failure is not an option in our household.
1 person likes this
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
20 Apr 07
My son did that, he was 17 years old and a junior in high school. He started acting up and not liking school when he was 14 years old, it was always a struggle, so when he turned 17 and no longer wanted to go to school I gave him a few options, he could quit school and immediately take the GED or continue on with his education, needless to say he took the option of the GED, I was unable that he had come this far and would not finish, but it was better than fighting with him to attend.
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
20 Mar 07
Peach, I have to agree with you. I would push him. He is almost there and yes GED's are good but it is better to have a high school diploma. He will regret not finishing the older he gets, I know you can not make him understand this now but you and I both know that he will. Quitting is never an option. I also agree that he should indeed pay for part of the tuition of summer school. Good luck my friend
1 person likes this
@mobyfriend (1017)
• Netherlands
20 Mar 07
Maybe he has seen the light and knows that he has to go to summer school to pass that class. I sure hope he passes. You are right most employers want the diploma not the GED. Maybe there are more students you know who need to pass that class in summerschool and perhsp they can form some kind of studygroup with a tutor.
1 person likes this
