Dad forces 15-year-old son to drop out of high school and work for the family business, tells the state he's homeschooling him: 'He was bragging about how our state doesn’t check that an education is actually being provided.'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 1, 2025 3:00 PM EST

This poor kid is going to be behind in life because of his dad's bad decision-making.

In some countries, the point of a high school education is not to ensure everyone gets the same basic knowledge, but to separate the academically inclined from the not-so-academically inclined and put both groups on paths better suited to their strengths and weaknesses. In a system like this, students who were not as suited to academics might attend vocational schools to train for work, while the academic kids would go on to higher institutions of learning. 

That's all well and good if you live in a country where a high school diploma is not required for most jobs, but that is not the case in the United States. While some might argue that a high school diploma doesn't inherently mean that you're qualified for any number of jobs, it does show that you can show up to the same place every day for four years and complete a long-term goal, and that's a quality hiring managers desire in their employees. If someone quits high school at age 15, there's a good chance that they will leave a job as soon as the going gets tough. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • Close-up portrait of female hipster with natural makeup and short haircut enjoying leisure time outdoors
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The teenager in this story dropped out of high school at 15 against his will. His dad wanted him to create economic value by working for the family business, but he doesn't think much of the fact that his son won't be getting a high school diploma or his GED anytime soon.

  • My dad pretends to homeschool my sibling

    At thanksgiving I found out that my dad took my 15 year old sibling out of school to work in the family business. He called it "graduated" but when asked about college, my dad said he would need his GED for that so no, he was taken out. I thought
    via u/Ok_consequences23
  • they were going to enroll him in an online program (we have free options in Utah), but that was also not followed through on. I'm upset and I don't know what to do. I think I will try to reason with
    via u/Ok_consequences23
  • my dad and try and convince him as he is breaking the law and I'd rather not turn him in. But he was bragging about how our state doesn't follow through and ever check that an education is actually being provided. I'm at a
    via u/Ok_consequences23
  • African female school psychologist supporting sad teenager girl during her difficult situation at school
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • loss what to do if he refuses because even if he is forced to finish out 10th grade, I think by 11th he could legally drop out. I'm pissed about our laws in Utah. About how easy it was for my dad to just say they were doing home school with no intentions to and
    via u/Ok_consequences23
  • how no one ever asked another question. And how the family business likely won't provide for him forever and supremely limits his future options.
    via u/Ok_consequences23
  • Man wearing white and black plaid button up sports shirt pointing at a silver macbook
    via Kenny Eliason

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • knitwit3 I am so sorry this is happening to your sibling. My advice would be to keep lines of communication open with your sibling so you can help them as possible. Having a place turn for advice or go visit when times are rough can make all the difference.
    via u/knitwit3
  • Even if you can't help your sibling much yet, you can encourage them once they are ready to change. Adults get GEDs. Adults can enroll in college. Sometimes it takes a while in the real world before you figure out which direction you want to go.
    via u/knitwit3
  • Nomadic_Reseacher I feel your anger, frustration, and loss. It shouldn't be possible to legally rob a child of their education or exploit them in the process. Watching your own parents do it to a younger, defenseless sibling is an abiding grief, a wound made by those who should love us best. It's really hard.
    via u/Nomadic_Reseacher
  • o-willow I'm really sorry OP. If the state laws are already pretty lax, then no one will probably bother to intervene in your sibling's situation. I think the best thing you could do is to talk to your sibling about all the other things he could do for work outside of the family business, all the other options that would be open to him if he had a GED / degree, and be there to support him if he ever decides to follow through.
    via u/o-willow
  • eowynladyofrohan83 Is it possible to report this without dad knowing?
    via u/eowynladyofrohan83

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

family drama siblings bad parenting family business bad parents parenting dad homeschooling homeschool high school family sibling Parenting Fail Parenting FAILS
Scroll Down For The Next Article