Furthermore, instead of just saying “no, she’ll have to wait until she’s 17” the judge started proceedures to remove the girl from her home.
The judge is being an ass.
Hey, but some of us early-college people did do that. I went to college at 17, graduated at 19, and just got my master’s two months ago, at 20.
And I’m perfectly fine socially. No, really. I played sports in high school, did plays and model UN, and generally had a great time. I had a blast in college–went to tons of parties, made lots of new friends, held down a part time job for almost the entire time that I was there, and met the man of my dreams.
Just to echo This Year’s Model, one size doesn’t fit all. I’m sorry you had a shitty time in college, but not everyone who went early did, and it’s not fair to think this girl isn’t ready because you weren’t.
Not necessarily, Biggirl. Any student can take college classes at any age, with the permission of the college. I did myself, taking two courses from Bucknell at ages 13 and 14, and one course from Penn State at age 15. But the entrance requirements for most colleges are very different. Neither Bucknell nor Penn State would have admitted me at the time I took classes there, but it was all right for me to take a few classes. If you’re not officially admitted to a university, you cannot graduate. (There are some exceptions, of course. But the college or university is under no obligation to make them.)
My understanding is that this student took a number of courses at Manhattan CC “a la carte,” as many mature and “non-traditional” students do, without being officially enrolled. Then, when she had enough credits for an associate degree, she applied for one. That’s not how the degree system works at most places. (Again, there are exceptions, as outlined in the article.)
Manhattan CC was well within their rights, IMHO, to deny this student entrance to the college based on their entrance requirements. And without entrance, there is no degree. Harsh, yes, but shouldn’t the father have seen what the degree requirements were before embarking his daughter on the course?
Gee. Looking over this, I realize I went to college at age 15. Of course, in Quebec we start with two years of junior college (cegep) after grade 11, but still, most of the students were 17-19 coming into it. (I had skipped a grade previously, and my birthday is in October.)
I was actually more social in cegep than i had ever been previously, just because people were now more mature and there were more of them from different schools, so they were easier to deal with than high school, not harder. In fact, I ran the gay and lesbian group in my second year. After entering cegep, my age didn’t matter any more at all throughout university.
And I’m hardly a type-A personality - in fact, I dropped a hard program for one I was more interested in, and took a semester off after my first year of university, spreading my uni career over four years instead of the more usual 3.
So it can be a good thing.
Using a rough average of 130 lbs (which I pulled straight outta my ass) for a kid under 17, and assuming we need at least 2 complete tons (you did pluralize it!), you would only need 31 kids to make your first statement correct.
Now, if we agree that one complete ton and any portion of a second would constitute “tons”, then we only need 16 kids. Of course, I round up so we don’t have any fractions of kids to deal with.
And that average weight might be totally wrong, too, so don’t put too much effort into dealing with this post. 
When the going gets tough, the shit hits the black kettle.
high fives gatopescado
All right, I’ve got at least 31! I’ve got to figure out how to use this to my advantage now. “You know boss, TONS OF STUDENTS think it would be a good idea if I came to work in my pyjamas. Or had office hours on the beach. Or brought my cat to work.” This is rich with potential.
Well, I did see the accompaning photo and she’s clearly not a supermodel, but she’s only a teenager. Give her a few years to get all mature and evil and sexy.
Fair enough.
I understand your point entirely, Duke, and for you maybe that would have been the best thing. Not for me. Hell, I’m 46 now, not any more social than I’ve ever been (though a bit better at appearing social), and have spent the last few years catching up on the education I lost by dropping out and hitchhiking around the country for a few years starting when I was 14. I firmly believe that the best thing for me would have been some far more challenging schoolwork. But that’s just me, y’know?
I don’t really think I would characterize 17 as going in that early. I have several friends that went to college that early, but they didn’t skip any grades (except maybe 1st or something) to do it. Plus, it’s not that far away from most of the other kids starting. 16 is much different than 17. And so would be having four years of high school to get your head straight (not that I know you did this) and graduating at 17, and just taking one or two years of high school and skipping straight to college at 17.
You had 130 pounds of stuff in your ass?! :eek:
I know that article was in the Daily News, but it was still woefully skimpy on facts.
Is it possible that NY has basic requirements for core courses such as math, history, science, etc? Is it possible that Ms. Lipsman, aided and abeted by her father, failed to fullfil these requirements by taking an a la carte curriculum and junior college and following it up at fashion school?
I have no idea from the article whether this is true or whether it has anything to do with the case, but just a thought.
Let’s fight a little ignorance here - apparently you’re unfamiliar with F.I.T. Despite its odd-sounding name, it’s a full university - a unit of S.U.N.Y., in fact - and a respected art and design school. It’s no more deserving of a derisory sneer than would be Parsons or RISD. For U.S. News purposes, it’s considered a “Comprehensive College-Bachelors”:
F.I.T. was the North’s top such public college.
There are two seperate issues here.
The first is that the college isn’t going to give the girl a degree because she doesn’t have a high school diploma. That’s not such a big deal. She should spend a few years taking in culture, travelling, getting some real world experiences. I’m pretty sure the credits she has won’t be going anywhere.
The second is the judge calling the girl’s father neglectful for sending her to college. I believe the proper term for this sort of thing is “horse shit.”
I’m on the fence here a bit. I think the father might have been well advised to have sorted the requirements out a couple of years ago. I mean these sorts of situations don’t just suddenly arise out of the blue for most families. But rumour on the homeschooling lists is that NY is getting tougher and tougher with regards to kids moving from homeschooling or entering college in non-traditional ways.
Duke, I know you had a crap time but I know of several kids IRL and online who are at college very young and functioning and happier than trapped in an age level classroom. I don’t see 15 or 16 as a big fat hairy deal. A lot of parents are assessing a situation where the kid’s not happy at school in any case. It’s not like concentrating on social stuff or sporting stuff is the answer for every profoundly gifted kid. For some of them, they may as well be getting an education while not being particularly happy.
And the neglect thing is horse shit absolutely.
I began attending community college at age 16 (just barely) shortly after I got my GED. I left school in 9th grade because I hated it so much. Why should I have continued to put myself through that? I dreaded going to school every single day. I hated the ennui, the apathy, and the constraints of high school. I was skipping practically every other day and no longer had any motivation. When I started attending community college, I fell in love. I just finished my second year at my local college and will be doing one more before I go off to a 4 year college. I am happier than I ever remember being in my life. I no longer dread falling asleep because it means waking up. I have more interests and am a more social person than I’ve ever been in my life. I honestly feel that college made me bloom. What I’m trying to say is: don’t fool yourself that everyone is like you. I didn’t have any friends in high school and worse, I didn’t do anything else, either. I don’t have many friends now, but my almost morbid shyness has disappeared and I enjoy many other activities. I feel like a real person now, when in high school I was only a pathetic shadow. When I think about the way I felt in high school, it still makes me shiver, though it was more than three years ago. It terrifies me to think of ever feeling that way again.
I’m in University, I started when I was 16. I didn’t have any problems with it.
You know, I WISH I had gone to college early. But no, I stayed for my senior year of high school, so I’d get the “High School Experience” that I’d love and treasure so much. And was miserable all year.
Fuck High School, says I.
Awww shit man. I’ve been languishing in an MSTP since 1997. Tell your brother I feel his pain.
These freakin’ first years get younger every year. It can’t possibly be that I’m getting older, and this just goes to prove it.
I went to college early. I looked older than I was, so I didn’t have much trouble fitting in.
I was not what I would call emotionally mature, though, and quickly discovered the joys of spending half the day and night upside down on whiskey and dope. This was certainly an interesting experience, and fairly valuable, I guess… it’s certainly given me fodder for any number of bizarre stories for MPSIMS… but it’s not something I’d want MY kid doing. I wasn’t ready for college.
By the same token, though, I am inclined to think that flatly refusing to allow this girl to take her GED until she’s seventeen just because them’s the rules… is crap. Far as I am concerned, if a three-year-old could pass the damn thing, there should be no impediments to prevent him from doing so.
And from the information this thread has provided me, I would tend to believe the judge is being an asshole. Anyone who has successfully prepared their kid for college is NOT guilty of neglect in that respect… and even if the folks are pressuring her like crazy to start college … is this really grounds to remove a teenager from the house?