More Rights in High School

A lot of high schools require the signature of a parent or guardian for just about everything. We need our parents to sign progress reports, get permission to watch PG13 movies, and fill out things like financial aid forms. Parents are required to call the attendance office when their kid is absent from school. Many high schoolers are eighteen and perfectly capable of making these decisions on their own. Schools do not take into consideration the fact that not all kids have perfect home lives and responsible parents. I know that in my case I went without lunch for a while because my mom wouldn't fill out the free lunch form, which required her signature. Now I live with my aunt and getting things like detention slips signed by her just adds stress for both of us. Most 17-year-olds are mature enough to make their own decisions and do as poorly or as well as they want without having to consult with their parent or guardian. Why should an eighteen -year-old get a letter sent to their parents when they are late to school? Teenagers should be given more responsibility in schools because that's what they need for the real world. A lot of people cannot count on their parents, but schools don't realize that.