DS16 got a job!! (but........)

[N.Bailey]

Of course I would. There is no shame in getting a GED

You would encourage your child to quit school and get a GED? You think that's acceptable in this economy? Especially to take a dish washing job? Are you serious? You think that would give your child the best chance at a successful future?

 

[luvsJack]

Of course I would. There is no shame in getting a GED

No there isn't. But, he gets his GED at 16, then what? Washing dishes? There is also no shame in his continuing to graduation with a part time job and then whichever path he chooses to continue his education.

 

[Alesia]

I would love it if you would explain this statement:

yeah, and all the manager was worried about was if he was an illegal without papers! he's not even mexican!

because you couldn't possibly be saying what it sounds like you're saying...

 

[DizBelle]

I would love it if you would explain this statement:



because you couldn't possibly be saying what it sounds like you're saying...

Well, if OP lives an area that is close to the Mexican border or in an area that is highly populated with Mexican immigrants, noting that he is not mexican is not a weird statement at all.

 

[solotraveler]

This is where full documentation and a potential law suit would be in order.

Clearly the 16yo has no idea that they are treating him illegally.

Lawsuit to not "make money and profit"--but law suit in terms of having the employer prosecuted for illegal employment practices.

Usually, the employer will have that sign posted by the time clock or in a break room about where to call for violations. Yeah--I'd be on it big time if I got fired for expecting my employer to follow the law.

If the job requires the employee to be treated in that manner--then it needs to be for adults only.

A kid that became a parent at 16--did not legally become an adult.

Seriously?? Lawsuit??

Since the employee is in Florida, they could essentially get rid of him for sneezing funny, so he'd have absolutely zero traction for a suit.

I know you keep harping on the legality of the situation, but most everyone working any kind of job is likely doing something at their place of employment that violates some obscure labor law. I suppose it's up to the individual employee whether or not to make a gigantic case about it, but if they did they would need to understand the reality that they'll have a real tough time holding on to employment.

OP, I still say that you should let him try it out for a while. His education should absolutely come first, but the fact that he wants to "man up" in this way is a really GOOD thing.

 

[PatsGirl]

While I certainly agree that education should be a priority, we are not talking about a college junior where Mom/Grandmom helps out for a year or two until he gets settled. Some families simply cannot put their own priorities on hold for what, in this case, would amount to six years or more for the father of the child to complete high school and college. So, yes, I would agree that a GED might be a good alternative if it all becomes too burdensome with regular high school classes.

Good luck, I think his showing the ambition to get this full time job says alot about him!

 

[bumbershoot]

why are you driving him to and from work?

When I was working that young, we didn't have enough cars as drivers. So if my mom needed the car while I was working, she drove me. Totally no big deal, and nothing for anyone to be weirded out by.

Yes. Because all illegals are Mexican.

Well, if OP lives an area that is close to the Mexican border or in an area that is highly populated with Mexican immigrants, noting that he is not mexican is not a weird statement at all.

Exactly.

I grew up in San Jose CA, and they certainly weren't worried about, say, illegal Russian immigrants for the most part. They were worried about Mexican illegal immigrants, because that's the closest border and most common. I worked with a Canadian girl who was, hmm, now I don't remember why she was living and working there, and while she did have her official papers to work, etc, she wasn't the one that was constantly expecting a "raid" (as happened about a week after I was hired, and half the kitchen employees were fired b/c their papers weren't legal, and they were all from Mexico).


OP, I hate it when jobs act illegally! A former employer of DH's did such rotten things in terms of breaks. He was about to drop by the time he left that job. And that was a computer-based, sitting down job, not one where you were hustling and bustling all day! I could never get him to officially complain about how they were breaking laws...I kept wanting to call OSHA myself, but never did.

A friend of mine from college worked almost full time while in HS, did great in HS, had extracurricular activities, and had time for a serious boyfriend all at the same time. It can be done. He'll just need to learn focus, priorities, and time management, and learn it FAST!

 

[Alesia]

Well, if OP lives an area that is close to the Mexican border or in an area that is highly populated with Mexican immigrants, noting that he is not mexican is not a weird statement at all.

My area has a lot of Mexican immigrants, but I still realize that there are illegal immigrants from many different nationalities, including Caucasians.

 

[N.Bailey]

While I certainly agree that education should be a priority, we are not talking about a college junior where Mom/Grandmom helps out for a year or two until he gets settled. Some families simply cannot put their own priorities on hold for what, in this case, would amount to six years or more for the father of the child to complete high school and college. So, yes, I would agree that a GED might be a good alternative if it all becomes too burdensome with regular high school classes.

Good luck, I think his showing the ambition to get this full time job says alot about him!

College isn't the only option. What about a year at a trade school? I'm starting to think that they are a better course of action for a LOT of today's students. While there are a lot of professions where your odds are fairly good for a prosperous future if you major in ______ (fill in the blank), there are a lot of majors that come with little to no real future in certain fields.

Let's just say, you won't be hiring an electrician or a plumper from China to wire your house tomorrow. You won't be sending your automobile overseas for inspection, etc. etc....

While a GED is the equivalent of a high school diploma, it's even a requirement to get in the most basic of trade schools today.

I surely hope no one on this thread is going to try and build a case for obtaining a GED over a high school diploma? While I certainly feel that if one quits school they should do all they can to obtain a GED at minimal (you can't go anywhere without at least this much), it's certainly not the ideal and IMO, is outrageous that anyone would advocate our youth drop out of school when the option is there to continue.

 

[N.Bailey]

My area has a lot of Mexican immigrants, but I still realize that there are illegal immigrants from many different nationalities, including Caucasians.

Yes, but why take 1 sentence, get caught up in a game of semantics and try and steer the thread into a direction that's different than the OP intended just so you can blast her? Obviously the thread is not about who makes up the illegal alien tally in the US.

 

[Cornhusk]

Well, if OP lives an area that is close to the Mexican border or in an area that is highly populated with Mexican immigrants, noting that he is not mexican is not a weird statement at all.

The OP lives in Florida.

I suppose she thinks that ALL Hispanics are Mexican. Also, just because someone is Mexican does not automatically infer illegal, just as much as there is a high concentraion of Mexican illegals there is also a high amount of others. The OP didn't state "He isn't an illegal Mexican" but that is he is not "Mexican" which is an entirely different statement. She states "yeah, and all the manager was worried about was if he was an illegal without papers! he's not even mexican" What does being Mexican have to do with being illegal? Why even bring that up? Is it the case that ALL Mexican are illegal because apparently by this statement, it does.

 

[happygirl]

The OP lives in Florida.

I suppose she thinks that ALL Hispanics are Mexican. Also, just because someone is Mexican does not automatically infer illegal, just as much as there is a high concentraion of Mexican illegals there is also a high amount of others. The OP didn't state "He isn't an illegal Mexican" but that is he is not "Mexican" which is an entirely different statement. She states "yeah, and all the manager was worried about was if he was an illegal without papers! he's not even mexican" What does being Mexican have to do with being illegal? Why even bring that up? Is it the case that ALL Mexican are illegal because apparently by this statement, it does.

I don't think the OP meant anything negative by her post

 

[Cornhusk]

I don't think the OP meant anything negative by her post

Maybe not but others would be offended by it.

 

[chisnpeke]

Of course I would. There is no shame in getting a GED

No shame in getting a GED but it is absolutely stupid to drop out of high school if it can be avoided. I know a girl I went to high school with had her baby as a sophomore and still graduated with the class. It can and has been done. You still need some sort of post high school training.

My dad was born in 1945, dropped out of HS and got his GED and was able to make $70,000 a year as an insurance salesman at AAA. He may have also gotten his insurance license, if there is such a thing. That could not happen anymore even though all you really need to do to sell is be a good talker.

 

[SandrA9810]

GED is testing out of high school.
but he'll still recieve an adult school diploma, which isn't entirly the same as a high school diploma. The OP stated that he will be graduating a year early and the only way to do this is with night school.

I went down that road myself. Got expelled 3 months prior to the end of the year, had to wait till summer to take night school. And i finally got my "diploma".

But no matter which one he takes, if he's going on to trade school (probably his best option) or traditional college, it'll outweigh what he did in high school.

Overall, a technical/trade school would give him the experience and better his chances at finding a good job out of school. Many people are making much more money than those that did the traditional 4 yrs because they actually have hands on experience in the field. Those getting out of college now are finding it very very tough, because they might have knowledge, but no experience. And they were highly jealous of their friends that took "the easy way out"... Because their friends are now better off.

Just a bit of food for thought. I saw the story on 20/20 or something some time ago.

If you think the employer is doing something wrong, provide the facts to your son and let him deal with it. You can't be hovering over him and telling him what the right choices are. He needs to do that himself.

But long sleepless nights and hard days at work are going to happen sooner or later. At least at that age, it's a bit easier. Now i savor my 8hrs of sleep.... And I'm only 26...

 

[PatsGirl]

College isn't the only option. What about a year at a trade school? I'm starting to think that they are a better course of action for a LOT of today's students. While there are a lot of professions where your odds are fairly good for a prosperous future if you major in ______ (fill in the blank), there are a lot of majors that come with little to no real future in certain fields.

I surely hope no one on this thread is going to try and build a case for obtaining a GED over a high school diploma? While I certainly feel that if one quits school they should do all they can to obtain a GED at minimal (you can't go anywhere without at least this much), it's certainly not the ideal and IMO, is outrageous that anyone would advocate our youth drop out of school when the option is there to continue.

Agreed. I also think a technical high school might be an option both in this case and in the case of kids that just don't think they are college-bound. DS graduated from a tech and was accepted at several colleges and yet, chose the military. Which btw is another option

I would never advocate dropping out of school in normal circumstances but becoming a father (and taking responsibility) is not the norm so, yes, I stand the by option of a GED as a choice, as I do for both the military (which requires a GED) and attending technical high school. Trade school is a great option as well.

 

[RitaZ.]

OP, has your son looked into FL Virtual School? He can take high school classes online at no cost to him. It's a lot more convenient than going to school at night. He can even take online classes over the summer. Look into it.

ETA~ It's a great option if he wants to graduate early.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Seriously?? Lawsuit??

Since the employee is in Florida, they could essentially get rid of him for sneezing funny, so he'd have absolutely zero traction for a suit.

I know you keep harping on the legality of the situation, but most everyone working any kind of job is likely doing something at their place of employment that violates some obscure labor law. I suppose it's up to the individual employee whether or not to make a gigantic case about it, but if they did they would need to understand the reality that they'll have a real tough time holding on to employment.

OP, I still say that you should let him try it out for a while. His education should absolutely come first, but the fact that he wants to "man up" in this way is a really GOOD thing.

Lawsuit is probably not the correct term--but if he is fully documented as working an illegal schedule, Florida being a right to work state does not allow any company of any kind to break labor laws.

That's the kicker.

I'm harping on it for a reason--b/c it's illegal to overwork a minor period. It cannot be any more clear than that.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

OP, has your son looked into FL Virtual School? He can take high school classes online at no cost to him. It's a lot more convenient than going to school at night. He can even take online classes over the summer. Look into it.

Good call. And it's FREE!!!

Another option--if his grades are up to snuff, would be to do the dual enrollement option. Depending on the county of residence and proximity to a CC campus, he can take his classes at the CC instead of high school during regular hours. There may be more flexible scheduling. Of course the course work will be a bit more challenging.

 

[RitaZ.]

Good call. And it's FREE!!!

I can't say enough good things about it.

Many parents don't know about this program. I learned about it from a friend. The regular schools certainly don't advertise it for obvious reasons. When DS went to get his form signed and approved by his counselor, she tried to persuade him not to take the classes online.