A high school student left school, got a job and was supporting herself financially. The 17-year-old wanted to get her GED at night school, but was told she would have to wait until she was 19.
Because she realized she needed the diploma at a younger age than most dropouts, she was told "no." Really?
From the Arizona Daily Star, Friday, April 5, 1968:
Barred By Dist. 1
Girl, 17, Sues For Schooling
A 17-year-old Tucson girl wants to “drop in” not “out” of school and Tucson School District No. 1 won’t let her.
This is what Judy O’Leary claims in a lawsuit filed yesterday in Superior Court. She asks that the school district be required to allow her to enroll in night school so she can get a high school diploma.
The suit said the school district turned down her application for enrollment because she is under the minimum age of 19 years.
Miss O’Leary, daughter of Mrs. Julia O’Leary, also of Tucson, has been self-supporting for three or four years. She contends the board policy is “arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory.”
Judge Lee Garrett set 1:30 p.m. April 22 as a date for hearing the petition for writ of mandamus. Atty. Joseph H. Soble represents Miss O’Leary.
Before her court date the school district relented.
From the Star, Monday, May 6, 1968:
Dropout, 17, Gains Right To Classes
Tucson School District No. 1 officials have decided to relax admission rules on age for adult evening courses and allow a 17-year-old girl to help reverse the usual “dropout” trend.
Superior Court Judge Mary Anne Richey yesterday continued a hearing on a writ of mandamus until a later date as may be needed in view of the agreement.
Joseph Soble, attorney for the girl, Judy O’Leary, said the classes don’t start until mid-August, but the principal of the Adult Evening School has agreed to make an exception in the minimum age of 19 rule.
Miss O’Leary, daughter of Mrs. Julia O’Leary of Tucson, has been self-supporting for three or four years and wants to take a General Educational Development (GED) refresher course to enable her to get a high school diploma.
Atty. Lawrence Allison represented the school district in the dispute.
Does this mean that any dropout as forward-thinking as Miss O'Leary will still have to go to court if he or she wants to go to night school before the age of 19? It looks as if an exception was made only for this student.
