What Reason I Should Stay In School, When...?

Question

1) I receive emotional and physical abuse almost everyday from a lot of the other students.
2) Some of the teachers ignore me, and act like I do not exist, and/or that I know less than the straight students.
3) They act like it is my fault that the students pick on me, and I get in trouble sometimes too for it!

I am 17 years old by the way!

Answer 1

well you have my sympathy..but you should stay in school because you are so close to the end of it that it would be a shame to throw it all away. Your life will improve after school...but stick with it.

Answer 2

I believe it is hard to put up with all that you mentioned but staying in school is very important. Is it possible to switch schools, or try talking to the counselor and see if you could do some of your classes at home. I am sure there has got to be a way. You need to make them believe that you want the education, but you are so fed up that you are considering quiting.

Trust me I know how important that diploma is. I am 44 years old and quit school at age 16. I had a job 2 in fact a car and money, so who needed school. But after having 3 kids and raising them for the past 17 years, now I want to go back to work but have no diploma and at my age it makes it a lot harder. I wish I would have stayed.

Good Luck

Answer 3

If you let the stupid, bovine, low-brow, red-necked prejudice of the "people" at your school stop you from getting the education that is your right, then you are letting their homophobia win. I know it must be hard and scary. There are options beyond just continuing:
1) There are alternative schools for GLBT youth. The first was in Dallas: http://www.tgcrossroads.org/news/archive.asp?aid=236 you do not mention where you are, there may be one in your area, and if not, some of these schools arrange housing for students.
2) It is more difficult, but more and more law suits have been brought by students against their schools for homophobia. here is the Gay Student Network, one of the organizations that is helping with these suits: http://www.gsanetwork.org/
Above all else, this is not your fault, it is THEIR fault. Don't let them win. Take care

Answer 4

Whatever you do, stay in school. I would advise you though to get some counseling or at least tell your parents so they could talk to your superinendent or principle. As to the teachers' behavior: Many experienced teachers still have this idea that teasing in high school is "normal." It is not. You aren't going to change that crowd for yourself or any other student in the school who is teased or bullied while they sit by and watch. They are poor teachers. Do your work and graduate and get validation from your parents, your friends, and the teachers there who have some brains to treat everybody the same positive way. Remember that now, get VALIDATION of who you are (your total self) from friends -- or anybody else who will give it to you through this trying time in your life. I am going to tell you something else: That same kind of uncaring teacher once treated blacks and women the same way you have been treated. Such characters may be teachers, but they are very ignorant. Remember, get VALIDATION from positive, nice people, not jerks.

Answer 5

I say remember this, "You are part of the 1 in 10. Out of every 10 kids in your school there is someone suffering the same way, they maybe some one you know. They might be one of your own predators. But know that in your school that for every 10 students that pass through that door. At least one of them is suffering the same pain. Remember it is also not your fault because if anyone was given the choice to be ridculed like this or not, we all know what the answer is. No one would choose to be ridiculed, in the right mind set." Er...I tend to say that to every LGBT kid that has ever come to me and said they wanted to drop out. I mean I am also in the same boat, but I am lucky enough to have one little bright spot in my life and that is knowing that the pain will lessen with time and you will find others who have the same deck of cards as you do. Plus graduating from school, going to college, and being successful is the greatest screw you that you can serve to all those who abuse you. Oh yeah and a good place to vent your rage in the mean while is oasismag.com

Answer 6

I can sympathise with you. I had very similar problems while i was at school. i knew that i was gay but did not accept it and definatly had never told anyone, not even myself.

I found it easier to involve myself in groups or clubs that went through lunch, that way i didnt have to assosiate with the rest of the students. During the day i just told myself that no matter what they said i wasnt going to give them the satisfaction of beating me. I had teachers that used to hear the students taunting me, and when i looked to them for help their response was that maybe i should just accept it, cause it wasnt going to change. I found a couple of teachers that would help me, not by having a go at the other students all the time, but by helping me to be a stronger person and not let their taunts get to me. they would still stop the taunts if it was getting too much for me, but this only let the other studnets think they were winning. I also started to stick up for myself a bit, letting them know that what they were doing was a waste of time and that it only showed their level of intelligence was equal to a house brick.

if you need someone to chat too. send me an email. sometimes it just needs someone who will listen.

Answer 7

Stay in school b/c why should you have to leave b/c some assholes have nothing better to do. You shouldn't have to stand for any form of abuse, if the teachers are ignoring you then tell them! Seriously if they aren't listening to you tell them they are completely hopeless as you need help, you have asked for it and they have done jack **** about it, if they tell you to ignor them(as they usually do b/c they don't know how to deal with it) then say that you can't ignor ppl who physically and emotionally bully you and that you shouldn't have to put up with it and ask them what they are going to do about it coz you've had enough and it's stopping you from wanting to come to school. Don't rise to the bully's bait b/c thats why they keep doing it b/c they know it's getting to you. I take it you are from america b/c they are less accepting than ppl here in the u.k over homosexuality. We love homosexuals here, they're great and everyone gets treated the same, but just think of it like i'm going to finish here soon then i'll never have to see these bunch of fuckers again then i can get on and live my life proving to those ppl that you are unaffected and you didn't have to leave school on their account. Talk to you're parents and ask for help or if it's that bad change schools but don't drop out. If all else fails tell the teachers to go f**k themselves b/c you aren't putting up with it no more! or words to that effect! Good luck!

Answer 8

why did you go to school in the first place?
get attention from teachers? to get praise and smiles form peers?
to find trouble? or to learn and get the results so that you can go to college and change ur ife?
ignore the bad part of school..care only about ur education as that is what schools are providing..yes, school is a social ground but it is not the only place..there will be more socializing in college..
emotional and physical abuse only occurs when you show them ur weakness..how you react towards an abuse is a factor that determines whether you'll be abuse again or not. if you keep on complaining about the abuse that shows u're weak..be strong, be firm..tell them to stay away, hell, ignore them..they'll get bored if you dont react to their abuse..
as for the teacher that ignore you..get the results and ignore them when they start to act like you exist..study on ur own and prove to them that u're better than anyone in the class
"ur mind is a powerful slave but a bad master"
if you keep telling urself u can do it..then nothing is impossible..

Answer 9

It's a lot to have to put up with - I agree. You have to be strong and try and complete your education. Try your best to rise above the external influences that are putting you off continuing. I know it is harder than it seems.

Also try to get in touch with a school counsellor who may be able to help you put things into perspective - if not to help you put your priorities in order. Your first priority should be you and your lie going forward. You need a good education in order to get on in this world. While the environment is not the best for you - unless changing schools is an option - you have to try and muddle on through somehow.

If you're in the UK, you can call on ChildLine (bullying), as an independent alternative, or the Samaritans. You can even talk to (or inform your Head teacher that you will/wish to call on) the police (harassment)...

Above all, don't give up on your education.

My very best wishes to you

Answer 10

Three reasons, Jonathan.
1) Don't let them take away your future. The farther you get in your education, the farther you can go in employment.
2) Don't let them win. No one has the right to deny you something because you are gay. Prove it to them.
3) Even teachers can learn new things. Seeing your bravery in the midst of adversity can eventually stick, and who knows? It might impact how those teachers treat the next gay student who comes through the doors of the school in the future.

Answer 11

Well, I can relate because I'm shy and all the people at my school are bad, mean, and they want to B recognized. I somtimes wanna just stop going 2 school but then I think what will happen 2 my future. I wont B able to get a good job and It always makes me happy when I think about therir futures. The kids who are evil and does nothing but pick on kids usually grow up to B NOTHING. So just dont give up on yourself because of what people do, It'll all be worth it in the future..... ,")