My 17 year old, who has always had school difficulties is refusing to go back for his 11th grade. He has a job and is vowing to move out before he goes back. He has an IEP but is in the regular classes much of the time. I’m hoping I can talk him into letting me homeschool him and use the time to prepare for the GED but he’s had it pretty easy through school and we’d have to go back to square one. Is homeschool better that quitting, and will he be considered graduated without the GED?
Should I fight him and risk losing him? He has had absolutly no behavior problems ever and been co-operative until now. ADVICE PLease!
This is a hard one.
He feels grown up, wants to be grown up, and besides all the usual things about being seventeen he has to work extra hard at school to get very little success. Sometimes working a basic-level job full-time for a while can wake a young person up to the fact that he is going to be stuck lifting crates forever if he doesn’t get that diploma. Sometimes also when all the friends are back in class going to the warehouse every day looks less interesting.
I’d say don’t try to force the issue, because at this age and stage force will just move him out faster. Do keep talking to him now and then about how he can do better with a diploma, and get the materials and information for the GED.
Another very positive option is to find training in a career he actually likes, auto mechanics or construction or chef or whatever; often these apprenticeships only require Grade 10. Or for other fields sometimes there are systems of half-time high school and half-time on the job training. He may find classes a lot more interesting if he is learning a real career.