The six sections that divide this book discuss your rights in areas such as school, home, and work. More than forty chapters contain a spectrum of topics ranging from dress codes and curfews to drug abuse and discrimination. In addition, a state-by-state legal guide provides a quick reference of individual state laws regarding such concerns as your driver’s license, age of majority, marriage, and child labor law.
Included within the text are Teen Tip and Parent Tip boxes that highlight specific suggestions from the author. An extraordinary list of organizations, websites, and agencies identify valuable sources of additional information. Hotlines are listed in the reference section to provide quick help in an emergency situation.
While written specifically for teens, this book can also serve as an outstanding guide for adults who are seeking to understand the rights and responsibilities that teenagers have in today’s society.
More than forty chapters cover a spectrum of topics: - freedom of expression - school attendance and discipline - discrimination - becoming a legal adult - parents' divorce - insurance - assault - alcohol, tobacco, drugs, weapons - eating disorders - birth control - abortion - workplace issues - owning property - the court system
Parents are under a legal duty to provide the basic needs for their children. The basics include food, shelter, clothing, education, and medical care. This does not mean that your parents have to buy you the most expensive or most fashionable clothes. You will note that cars are not found on the list of basics. The obligation extends to what is necessary, and not what might be desirable. Because the duty to support you ends when you become an adult, your parents will generally not be legally obligated to pay for you to attend college.
All of these obligations continue only as long as the child remains legally dependent on the parent. Once you reach the age of majority as determined by the laws of your state (usually 18), your parents’ legal duty has ended and you are now responsible for yourself. Your parents’ duty will also end if you go to court and become legally emancipated or if your status makes you a legal adult. (Emancipation is a procedure in which a judge signs an order making you an adult even if you are younger than the age of majority in your state.) For instance, in most states, getting married emancipates you so that you are treated as an adult. Joining the military also has the same result.
The parental obligation continues even if you do not live at home. Parents have to pay child support if their children are committed to a state juvenile correction facility or other placement outside the home. Your parents cannot get out of the duty to support you just by throwing you out of the house, either.
GETTING A JOB Although your parents are obligated to support you, they can make you get a job. As your parents, they have a constitutional right to control your upbringing. If they think it is good for you to work, they can make you go. If you have a job, however, you do not necessarily have a legal right to keep the money that you earn. Your parents have that right unless your state has a law, as many do, that allows minors to keep the money they earn. Even if you get to keep the money, your parents still have the legal right to discipline you and to direct your moral and religious training. That means they can tell you how to spend your money and impose discipline on you if you disobey their instructions. If you parents do not want you to work, they can legally forbid you from getting a job.
CHORES AND ALLOWANCE Another right that goes along with being a parent is the right to the services and earnings of their children. They can also make you mow the lawn, clean your room, and wash the car. They are not legally obligated to pay you for these things or other things that you do around the house. There is no law that entitles you to receive any specific amount of money from your parents. They can determine how to provide you with the things you need. They decide how much, if any, money to give you to spend on yourself. The only limitation is that they cannot do anything that would constitute child abuse.
ACTS OF TEENS Regardless of how old a person is, he or she is responsible for his or her own actions. Even if you are under 18 and your actions cause damages to another person, you can be ordered by a judge to pay for those damages. This would mean that the judge would enter a judgment against you. In some states, if you have a job, a monthly amount of money can be withheld from your paycheck and sent to the person to whom you owe the money. This is called wage garnishment. Of course, you may not have any money or assets to pay a judgment.
Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Section I: Teens and School Chapter 1: The First Amendment in School 3 The Student Newspaper Library Books Religious Material Vulgarity and Slurs Apologies and Forced Speech The First Amendment and the Dress Code Chapter 2: Dress Codes 11 T-Shirts Style of Clothes Earrings Political or Religious Clothing Approved Dress Codes Chapter 3: School Prayer 19 Student-Led Prayer Private School Prayer Chapter 4: Compulsory Attendance Laws, Private Schools, and Homeschooling 21 The Laws on Skipping School Private Schools Homeschooling Charter Schools Changing Laws Chapter 5: Searches in School 31 Searching Possessions Strip Searches Locker Searches Student’s Right to an Attorney Random Searches Private Schools Chapter 6: Confidentiality of School Records 41 Public Records Subpoena Chapter 7: Sexual Harassment in School 49 Harassment by an Official Student-to-Student Harassment You as the Accused Chapter 8: Discrimination in Athletics 59 Contact Sports Non-Contact Sports Boys Seeking to be on Girls’ Teams Chapter 9: Students with Disabilities 63 Defining Disability Evaluating the Child’s Needs Providing Services in School Participating in Extra Curricular Activities Chapter10: School Discipline 69 Written Rules School Police Officer Juvenile Detention Crime and Punishment Due Process Drugs and Alcohol Policies Corporal Punishment Crimes at School Chapter 11: Expulsion from Private School 81 Suing for Money Deciding Factors in Court Private School Contract vs. Public School Notice Chapter 12: Dropping Out and the GED 87 Chapter 13: Suing the School 89 Immunities District Liability
Section II: Teens and Home Chapter 14: Becoming an Adult 97 Teens Seeking Emancipation Parents Seeking Emancipation Limited Rights Procedure Divorcing Your Parents The In-Between Year Chapter 15: Teens’ Rights vs. the Rights of Others 103 Your Body Speech Parental Obligations and Rights School Workplace Your Actions Friends Chapter 16: Discipline by Parents 107 Chapter 17: When Parents Divorce 109 Deciding with which Parent to Live Dealing with Court Procedures Guardian Ad Litem Custody Order Child Support Grandparents’ Rights Stepparents Kidnapping Foster Parents Adoption Chapter 18: Running Away 119 Being Thrown Out Chapter 19: Financial Responsibility 121 Getting a Job Chores and Allowance Acts of Teens Juvenile Crimes Chapter 20: Insurance 127 Health Insurance Car Insurance—Liability States No-Fault Insurance Premiums Chapter 21: Driving 133 Driver’s Licenses Traffic Tickets Automobile Accidents Curfews Chapter 22: Vandalism 139 Parental Responsibility Teen Responsibility Chapter 23: Sexual Crimes and Physical Abuse 141 Statutory Rape Date Rape Being Underage, Yourself Physical Abuse Chapter 24: Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, and Weapons 145 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Smoking Drugs Guns and Weapons Chapter 25: The Internet 149 Dangers Filters
Section III: Teens and Their Bodies Chapter 26: Eating Disorders 153 Types of Disorders What to do when a Friend has an Eating Disorder Treatment of Eating Disorders Chapter 27: Suicide 159 Chapter 28: Birth Control 161 Condom Distribution Programs Chapter 29: Abortion 165 Parental Notification Teen Fathers Forcing Teens to have Abortions Chapter 30: Marriage 167 Parental Consent Marriage and Legal...
About the Author
Traci Truly received her J.D. from Baylor University. She has practiced family law since 1985, which has included representing parents and grandparents in support, visitation, and custody cases. She was previously a member of the Texas Coalition for Juvenile Justice. Ms. Truly currently practices law in Dallas, TX.
Home
