Funny you should say that. That's what I thought. But since then, I've realized that the kids I knew who were homeschooled or who went to private schools hosted by local churches were much more at ease dealing with adults, and had much less of the proverbial "chip on shoulder" that you expect from teenagers. Still teens, still kids, but more sane.
That's when I realized that this is the right answer: if you can, get your kids out of public schools. Grandparents, you may have to help.
You know, having a regular job is what socialized me the best about boundaries and what was and what wasn’t appropriate.
The real issue I have, is how a lot of parents moan about not being rich, but the real problem is a lack of being resourceful. With the internet and the right kind of structure, along with technical skill training (some courses don’t require a high school diploma) and well developed professional connections, a person can go anywhere.
The real problem with public schools is that the teachers are forced to be a variety of things, but at the same time, don’t know a THING about the subject they are supposed to teach. Another issue is that parents want their spud to be pampered and protected and coddled (allergies for example) and refuse to let the teachers and other faculty in doing their job in keeping an ordered classroom/school.
Really, it’s no wonder kids are mixed up. It’s not mothers working outside the home, but parents unwilling to understand that school is also about their kids being self-sufficient. It’s about teaching kids to start looking after themselves academically.