[kmomteach]

Recently I wrote an article about the Governor of Massachusetts education plan. In his plan one provision may be to allow students to take an exam to graduate from high school early. This may be done as early as the age of 16. I agree with most of his plan except this. I worry that students will eagerly go for this to get out of school early (I would have). However I fear that many will be thrown into college or work. A 16 year old is not ready for the "wild" life that some experience at college with Fraternities and more. In addition, what type of job will a 16 year old child get? Likely not a very good one.
Do you feel that 16 is too young to gradaute from school? Those of you homeschooling, would you stop schooling your child at 16?

[MommaColleen]

I know a family who's 16yo graduated and went on to Penn State U. He is getting excellent grades in college and is going to take up another major in the Fall. This child is absolutely brilliant and is mature to boot.

With that said, do I know many other kids that would be mature enough to do that at 16. Heck no. Most are not mature enough at 18.

[KR258]

It would have been nice to finish high school early but I was def not ready for college life at 16! I would have gotten into all sorts of trouble if I didn't have my parents living with me...so with that said...I suppose if they live at home and go to college that would be better but I wouldn't want my 16 yr old (if I had one) making friends with the over 21 yr olds at school. I also wouldn't be comfortable sending my 16 yr old to work full time because they were smart enough to pass a test to graduate early.

[KR258]

It would be good to have a head start on some of those jobs though, the ones that take many years of schooling to get...Assuming you know what you want to be at 16.

[etali]

I don't see what's wrong with it, as long as the exam requires the same knowledge to graduate as you'd be expected to have at 18. If you're two years ahead of most other kids then why should have have to sit around and be bored when you could be getting a head start on futher / higher education?

I doubt the kids taking and passing such an exam would just do so to 'get out of school'?

[kmomteach]

You're right it would depend on what the exam involved. However I do think that some would try it just to get out of school. I wonder if there would also be a GPA requirement?

[QueenAngie]

16 is just too young to graduate.

Our local jr. college offers free summer and evening classes
for high school aged kids, so they can complete semesters
of college....while still in high school. I think this is a good
alternative for those college bound kids.

For those 16 yos just trying to escape school, they could go the GED route.
But, think of all those growing experiences they will miss the last two
years of h.s. ~ socially, emotionally, as well as intellectually.

[mrmnmom82]

The most "emotional progress" I made in my last 2 years was within extracirricular activities. Otherwise, the drama of highschool was pretty miserable. If a 16 yr. old is willing to put in the work it takes to graduate early, they deserve to. They can, and may want to, continue with extra cirricular activities with kids their own age, local plays, city sports teams... With family support, they may not go straight for the frat houses, but be content staying close to home.?

[purelegance]

one of my best friends from high school graduated early, she was miserable after graduation. all of us were still in high school, and the kids in college were at least 2 years older than her. she ended up dropping out of college, i think she was just too lonely. she still hasn't really made a close connection with anyone since.

as for the wild party scene -- i hate to say it, but a 16 year old probably can handle it. although i live in a state capital, it's a pretty small town setting. sad as it is, kids around here do the "wild college partying" during high school then concentrate on their studies during college. by the time they get to college all that partying is pretty dull & over with in their minds.

[Magic_Mikki]

I think 16 is too young for most people. I'm sure there are a few out there who could handle it, but the majority of 16 year olds wouldn't be able to handle the pressures.. Many 18 year olds can't! There is a big difference between a 16 year old and an 18 year old. And there is a lot of maturing going on in the last couple years of high school.