I'm 14 and I'm going to court. Please help!?

Question

I have gone to public school for 8 years. I stared cyber home-school mid last year. I can't take it anymore! I have no physical contact with anyone and being at home all the time is deteriorating my health. My mom refuses to let me transfer back to public school. So now I'm going to court, fighting against my mother. Here's my plan. I'll tell them the I didn't like public school but I made it through 8 years. Now think how Cyber school must be if I only lasted a little over one year! But I have the the feeling I'm ganna end up in juve. What should I do?

Answer 1

Well, what about your dad? What does he say about you going back to school?

If you're seriously planning on going to court, I sincerely hope you have:
a) thought about the effect on your relationship with your mum and where the two of you will go next, and
b) have a much better argument than your post suggests!

Have you talked this through with a lawyer? Your GP? With any independent adult? I don't know about the Juvie stuff - in my country, you definitely wouldn't but apparently you can go to Juvie for heaps of things in America that you wouldn't if you did them here.

What I do know though is that your mum isn't doing anything wrong. In the eyes of the law; she has fulfilled ALL her responsibilities to you by enrolling you in the cyber-school...the fact that you don't like the way in which she's doing it, don't agree that it is the right choice for you and/or are unhappy, is neither here nor there. If you go ahead and complain to the courts about this, you're most likely to just be told that it's "tough" and that you need to "Grow up!" and "Get over it!"

(unless you're planning on going to community services and asking them to put you into foster care)

Oh and I really hope that by "physical contact" you really meant "social contact", lol!. As a homeschooler though, the responsibility for getting out into your community and making a social life for yourself rests with you (not your mum and not your mum's chosen form of schooling for you)

Answer 2

You don't say why you're not in public school anymore. Were you kicked out? Or was it your mother's choice not to send you any more? At 14, you'd better buckle down and start doing what's expected of you. Which means, school work. That's your job until you are 18. Just do it the best that you can. And if it's the social aspect that is stopping you, maybe a different school where you don't know anyone and can start fresh is a better idea than cyber home-school. You don't provide much detail, so I've had to guess as to the real problems but most moms have only one objective, to do what's best (in their opinion) for their kid. Try to work with her instead of against her and maybe you'll get further than Juve.

Answer 3

First of all, there must be a reason your mother decided to allow you to do a cyber home-school, which means either a) you have some sort of debilitating illness/disease (mental or physical) and can't handle doing traditional public school, b) you've done something to be kicked out of school, or c) she isn't really invested in your education. As you are a minor, your mother (and father, if he's around) has the right to decide. If your father is in the picture, you can have him take custody of you, but you have to make sure you are willing to go against your mother in court, trust me, it's not easy. If not, you have to prove that your mother is incompetent, which usually means several encounters with DHS, help from a social worker acting on your behalf, and is a long, tiring, emotionally charged process. My advice? Get the whole story together, then re-post your question.

Answer 4

So why have you had no social life? Have you made any effort to have one? Homeschooling is different - you actually have to leave the house in order to have social contact - but it's far from impossible.

There are really only two reasons why you have no social life: your mom is literally forbidding you to leave the house (unlikely, sorry), or you haven't made the decision to do so. If it's the latter, it's honestly your own fault...and you're ready to take your mom to court over it?

Two words: grow up.

Now if your mom actually, literally forbids you to leave the house for any reason whatsoever, that's something you need to take up with child protective services (as well as your dad). However, if you're not chained to the kitchen table under lock and key...get out there. Find something to do. Opportunities abound.

You can take lessons, get involved in a hobby club, give your old friends a call and hang out at the mall, join a homeschool group and get involved...my son (homeschooled since 1st/2nd grade, now in 5th) actually asked me to run any further activities past him for "approval" a couple of years ago...he was never home!

I really caution you to back off on this. Taking your mom to court because you don't like your school is over the line. As far as your health is concerned - get out and get some exercise. Go for a run. Walk down to the store and grab some fruit or a sandwich. Do a nutrition study and find some great, fun new recipes to try.

In homeschooling, your time and schedule are your own - but you have to take that responsibility on. Unless your mom is guarding the door...the responsibility is yours. You're old enough to take some things on for yourself. Get out there and do it!

Answer 5

You're right: being at home all the time and having no physical contact with others is detrimental. What you should do is get involved with things outside the house. You don't have to be locked up all the time. Get out! Do things! Find local homeschoolers, find community lessons, groups and clubs (like swimming, soccer, anything), volunteer... There's so much that you can do. Just find stuff, ask your mom and do it! I've known cyberschooled kids who were very social.

If your mother is actually refusing to let you do ANYTHING outside the house, then you should call social services or child protective services and take it from there.

Answer 6

The thing about being home schooled at your age is that you have to have some self-discipline to do the work on your own. At your age chances are your mother can not force you into doing work you simply won't do. There are things that you can do to have " contact " with others for socialization even if you are home schooled. Join the YMCA, a program there for sports or arts, take martial art lessons, take music lessons etc .. I REALLY DON'T think you will end up in jail, they don't put kids your age in jail for crimes unless they are violent. Have you tried counseling?

Answer 7

I prefer you just graduate and just take it easy without getting aggravated there is a difference between being angry and doing something while you're angry. You can be angry but it's best not to do anything while your angry listen to music ride a bike do something positive and get your head away from the aggravation. It's best not to do any drugs or cigarettes while in that state because you will never be able to quit.

Hopefully you will figure it out

Answer 8

First off, why are you not in public school anymore?
Second, why would you think you're going to Juve?

Answer 9

Young Lady. Why did you leave public school for cyber school? Maybe Mother has to look at this problem very closely. A large part of education is being with people, interacting with those your own age and older folks as well. You must learn discipline from teachers, and discipline in general if you want an orderly life in which to develop. I don't know if court is the answer. You and mom must have a long talk. Fighting will only cause bitterness which both of you will later regret.

Answer 10

i have that same problem but i think I'm going to end up in a Forster home if i go to court just go to activities and me people