Teenage son's grades have slipped ; Do I make him quit his job?

Question

He is 17 and has always been an Honor roll student. He waits tables after school til about 10/pm ; 4 days a week.
What do you recommend?

My son is at school right now. I will definitely discuss the issue with him. I just wanted to see how the experiences of other parents would handle the situation before I speak with him. I would like to be fair and not fly off of the handle.
An example of slipping is that he went from a solid B in Trigonometry last grading period and this grading period he is barely passing. Hope that helps.

Answer 1

Did your son's grades drop after he got the job? Four nights a week seems like a lot of hours to me.If he works until ten and must still come home and do homework he may be too tired to apply him self. I would sit down with your son and calmly bring up the subject of grades.Ask him what he thinks he should do to work on his grades.I'd suggest that he could talk to his employer and work only 3 days instead of 4.I'm sure he enjoys his job and the feeling of independence he feels earning his own money.By being being allowed to be involvrd in this he is more apt to work harder to make things work than being told he must bring up his grades and/or quit his job.I'm certain since your son was on the honour roll he is aware how important school is.He is to be commended for his efforts.Maybe he needs extra help in the one subject.

Answer 2

Although I think that working and going to school at his age is a good thing (hopefully it teaches him responsibility and a little about what to to expect in the "real" world), I do believe that working so late will have an adverse effect on him. If he is not home until after 10pm and is still responsible for homework, chores, or anything else then he will definitely be exhausted and unable to focus in school. Maybe he should consider cutting his hours a little...most schools let out between 2:30pm-4:00pm...your son could find a part-time job that would only require him for a couple of hours a day right after school. This way, he can still work and earn some money for himself (kids like that) but he would get home much earlier and still be able to focus and concentrate on school-related things (which is definitely most important). If he cannot manage to do both while keeping his grades up, then unfortunately he should quit that job.

Answer 3

As a mother of a 16 y/o I would have to say don't make him quit his job but at least cut down on the hours. I made my son get a job because I got sick and tired of the "mom can I have 20 bucks, mom my car needs gas". Working 20-22 hours a week has been perfect. He puts a little money in the bank and also has money in his pocket to do what he would like. I told him that the first sign of grades slipping the job would have to go. As said before, education comes first.

Answer 4

that's significant to you that your infant be enjoyed and cared for top. merely remember the way our financial device is goin and how look after your husbands interest could be. Do you have funds interior the financial business enterprise to hold you over could your hubby be abruptly no longer able to wrk? Will you experience undesirable later in life which you left the artwork stress? Will your life comforts go through ( for you/your hubby/your infant) from you no longer having that better earnings? Do you have an outstanding outdoors help device in case you may stay at artwork? purely you are able to answer those questions, yet remeber there are lots of families the place the two mum and dad are working, consistent with probability you do no longer could give up thoroughly. consistent with probability artwork PT throughout the time of the hrs your hubby could be residing house with the newborn. i'm hoping this helps somewhat. good luck, Congrats and Take Care!!

Answer 5

I really think you should slow down. He sounds very smart and responsible. There are a lot of reasons grades can slip. Why don't you ask him???? He seems smart! Tell him that you notice it, and don't like it, and you want to know why! Is it too much work? A girlfriend issue? Are kids bullying him? Is he depressed or anxious? Has he finally gotten to work that is so hard that his old study habbits wont cut it? Ask him, don't jump to conclusions about his job.

Answer 6

Education should ALWAYS come first. yea having a job and extra money is nice but my recomendation is that you have him talk to his boss and see if he will cut his days worked down to 2 days to allow more time for son to study and such. if his grades do not improve he may need to quit his job and devote even more time to school.
At any rate talk with your son about this, ask him why he thinks hif grades are slipping.

Answer 7

Have the grades slipped that badly and is the job the cause,
how bad the slip would be the reason. talk to him first ask him why the grads are down and can he get them back up with out quiting his job or does he need to drop a night or two til they come back up. talk to him not us. these are his grades not yours.

Answer 8

I would have his report card in hand and tell him that you want to talk to him about it. Let him know that you are concerned that his grades have fallen and that if he doesn't improve the grades he will need to give his notice. Is there something else bothering him? Juggling work and school is a lot!

Answer 9

That is entirely TOO MUCH work for a 17-year old. Get him to cut his hours in half. Tell him you're sorry but school is more important and the only time he has to do it is now. He has his WHOLE life to work.

Answer 10

I don`t think that taking away his source of income is going to help bring his grades up.
You should tell him to cut back his work hours so he can study, and do his homework.
But realize, all you can do is suggest.
He`s seventeen; almost an adult.
You can not undermine him and force him to quit his job.