Quitting school

[Sabin]

What is the name of your state? Texas

Can you legally drop out of high school when you're 16?

 

[FarmerJ]

In some places If you can get parental consent it might be possible . I know all the arguements , The school isnt teaching stuff that is worthwhile or things you can use in real life , or you would rather go to work , Or your allready missing so many days that whats the point , In case you didnt know finishing high school isnt just about finishing high school for the usuall reasons , If you can keep it working for you and can graduate you will have a easier time with other forms of higher ed wether it be trade school or just going to college , If you really didnt know, here it comes from a stranger . If you have only a GED a few employers might think you are a quitter and wont stay with them for a while so some might turn down your application . If you dont plan on something else for education beside HS then you will be looking at doing lower paid jobs and having to work 2 to 3 times as hard as others just to get your piece of the pie . No Im not kidding ( been there did it) . If you are in a public education system find a way to make it work and if your not getting what you need then damnit go after the staff and your teachers and tell them you need help . It is a 2 way deal they are getting paid to help you learn , NOT Make you learn BUT to help you ,

 

[stealth2]

Quitting school isn't going to make a judge too enthused about emancipating you - especially if you tell him you plan to move in with your 19yo boyfriend.

 

[Sabin]

But I was told if you want to get emancipated, you just need to show that you will be able to take care of yourself. What does it matter who I live with? If I live in a dysfunctional family with abuse,then why is it a big deal if I live with my boyfriend in a much safer environment?

 

[stealth2]

Does TX even allow for emancipation? That's where you need to start. And one of the criteria for emancipation (in states that allow it) is that you are completely self-sufficient. If you later decide to live with this guy, that's one thing. But the judge will want to see that you are able to take care of yourself, like the adult you want him to declare you to be.

So sit down, do the research, and find out if it's something you're able to do in TX. Prove your independance.

 

[cbg]

Here's why you need to show that you can take care of yourself, regardless of who you are living with. Just suppose that at some point you and your boyfriend break up. Yes, I know, at 16 you're quite sure this will never happen, but take it from someone who's been there; it does.

So you've been living with your boyfriend and now you're on your own. His income has been part of what was paying the rent and utilities and food bills. You have to be able to fill the gap. You have to be making enough to cover everything he's been paying for.

Many employers will not hire you for anything over a minimum wage job if you are not either in school or a high school graduate. So dropping out of school so that you can get a better paying job or work more hours on the one you've got isn't necessarily the answer.

By the way, you haven't explained what kind of abuse you are being subjected to. If you're being beaten you have a far better chance of being emancipated, (assuming that Texas permits it, which we haven't established yet) than if the abuse is verbal. Or, like one kid I talked to a few months ago, if the "abuse" means that your parents are insisting that you follow a curfew that you think is unreasonable, requiring that you get decent grades, and insisting that you occasionally sit down with the family at the dinner table and talk politely to your Aunt Susan. I'm not saying this to put you down; just pointing out the reality that what you consider abuse might not be, legally.

If you really are talking about physical abuse, have you called the Child Protective Services? They may have alternate methods of helping you that do not involve putting you out on your own when you are clearly not ready for that.

Emancipation is not supposed to be easy to get. It is for those rare cases where the minor is clearly better able to take care of him/herself than those who are responsible for him/her. Again, I don't mean this to put you down but I remember what it was like to be 16. I know you feel like you're able to take care of yourself - all 16 year olds do. But it really isn't as easy as all that.

 

[stealth2]

This is one of the problems with posting over a few different boards - you only end up giving a portion of the info in each post.

 

[Sabin]

Yes, it is physical abuse. Yes,CPS has been called. No,CPS did not do anything. Which is why I think getting an emancipation would be best. I know there's a possibility that him and I may break up,and that I would have to find some alternate plan. I recently talked to my mother and she said we can sit down and talk about it soon...so we'll see how that goes.

 

[cbg]

You will have to find the alternate plan BEFORE you apply for emancipation. It WILL NOT be granted if part of your plan involves his finances. You MUST be able to COMPLETELY support yourself or it just will not happen.

 

[Sabin]

So basically,unless you're some rich stuck up teenager,you can't provide entirely for yourself,therefore can't get emancipated. Wonderful, I just love the legal system!

 

[cbg]

So, what you're saying is, the taxpayers should be ready to shell out for you?

 

[stealth2]

Well, who do you suggest support you? Sure as hell not me. Or is this the attitude you cop to your folks?

 

[kattrask]

It sounds to me like you are searching for a way out of a bad situation. I have a problem with a mother that says we'll talk about it sometime soon when her child asks for help. Unless you are making up the abuse to get your way. I had a cousin who did that and it almost ruined her family.

Do you have relatives or grandparents who can take you in who might be more palatable to a judge than a boyfriend?

But, in any case, why do you have to drop out of school? Can't you live with your friend and still go to school? Work nights? Or do you just want to drop out?

 

[kattrask]

It sounds to me like you are searching for a way out of a bad situation. I have a problem with a mother that says we'll talk about it sometime soon when her child asks for help. Unless you are making up the abuse to get your way. I had a cousin who did that and it almost ruined her family.

Do you have relatives or grandparents who can take you in who might be more palatable to a judge than a boyfriend?

But, in any case, why do you have to drop out of school? Can't you live with your friend and still go to school? Work nights? Or do you just want to drop out?

 

[Sabin]

No, I never said anything about YOU paying for me,or taxpayers...I meant having my boyfriend help support me while I have my own job. Yes,I am being abused...all my relatives live in other states,I want to quit high school and study to get my GED instead,and then go to college. I don't like the school's curiculum,I've been homeschooled before...and that's what I want to do now. I really doubt it would work living at a friend's house.