Help! Child/School Conflict

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I have read so many threads and topics on this site and see so much wonderful advice, I was hoping you guys would help me out.

My son made a very bad decision last week at school. His brother (14) had given him (12) a pocket knife for Christmas. He was so excited, he took the knife to school to show his friends. Never once thought about using it, just wanted to show of his present. Well, one of the students (very rightly so) told the principal. I got called into the school to pick him up since he was immediately suspended. The principal knew there was no malicious intent, so he suspended my son for the shortest time possible, 3 days.

I got a letter the other day informing me he has been referred to a juvenile court intake conference to see if they are going to charge him. My problem is that my state requires you take a nursing assistant class prior to starting clinicals, and my first day of class is at the same time as the scheduled conference.

Both of these are super important, and unfortunately I cannot be two places at once. I know it is institution specific, but is it worth it to email my instructor and ask if I can be an hour late, or should I drop the course and take it next semester? It is an accelerated course and attendance at every class is mandatory.

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Specializes in CCRN.

Get in touch with you school and discuss this with them ASAP.

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Specializes in ICU.

Call the courts to reschedule. They can do that. Lots of people have conflicts. Hopefully they dismiss it. I think that is so dumb. I'm sorry it happened to him.

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Thank you for both of your responses. I am torn on which one to do. I feel like whichever one I contact I'll be telling them they are not important. I don't want to give a bad impression to either. Uggghh!!!

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Hopefully they dismiss it. I think that is so dumb. I'm sorry it happened to him.

I agree!! Thank you for your support!

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Courts can reschedule. I would not even think twice before trying to reschedule that first. In my opinion, that doesn't say you arent taking it seriously at all.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Does your son have another parent?

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Call a lawyer and get it dismissed so you don't have to go.

If you can't, call the courthouse and get it rescheduled.

If neither of those works, call the instructor and let him/her know what's happening.

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Specializes in Neuro/ ENT.
Thank you for both of your responses. I am torn on which one to do. I feel like whichever one I contact I'll be telling them they are not important. I don't want to give a bad impression to either. Uggghh!!!

Do both! Talk to both your school and the court.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

So sorry you and your son are going through this. I am sure it is very scary for both of you. I sincerely hope the juvenile court agrees that there was no malicious intent and decides not to pursue this further.

I do have a couple of questions you can ask yourself before deciding what to do. First, if you reschedule your sons's intake conference can he still attend school while that is pending? If so courts reschedule hearings all the time. It will probably be easier to reschedule that than try to juggle the schedule of the CNA class to make that work.

Second question is the CNA class. You said this is mandatory before clinicals, so would delaying this class a full semester also mean you are delaying nursing school a full semester or do you still have time to fit the class in before clinicals start if you delay? If waiting to start the CNA class delays the entire program this is not a good option.

I hope everything works out OK!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'd try to get it rescheduled and be aware that even if you were given a time to be at court it doesn't mean you will be seen at that time. You could get pushed until later in the day and then you would be much later then a hour late to class.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

Call the court first and see if they can reschedule. Most schools aren't too forgiving on mandatory things.

Hope it works out!

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