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I think to be somewhat successful; you need a positive environment to focus on proper priorities. Taking Ponyboy out of Darry’s care and putting him in a foster home would be in his best interest. Being in a violent or unstable environment would only deter someone’s progress in helping themselves become the best they could be. Ponyboy is in what I believe, an unstable environment unfitting for a child. There is violence, drugs/alcohol, and bad influences around Ponyboy and it doesn’t seem to be doing him any good. Ponyboy seems like a smart boy who wants to learn and succeed, but having influences like Darry, Sodapop, and the rest of the greasers doesn’t do anything but make his chances at becoming something of himself any better. Both his brothers are drop outs and all his friends don’t seem to apply themselves well. Being around people who don’t want to apply or work hard in school may change Ponyboy’s ambitions. Even if Ponyboy stayed in school he would still be caught up in the greaser and Soc rivalry. Having all that violence would probably sidetrack him and get him into more and more trouble. In the book after Johnny died, Ponyboy said he was very clumsy and barely paid any attention in school. Having another fight like that could do the same thing to Ponyboy. Being violent towards Socs could bring fights into the schools and cause him to have to leave school. Another reason Ponyboy should be taken out of his brothers’ care is because he is only fourteen and his is smoking and drinking on a regular basis. Getting into drugs is not something someone his age needs to be doing. You never know if one day he will get really drunk with his friends and get himself in a big fight and end up hurting himself and others. Taking Ponyboy out of Darry and Sodapop’s care would be best for him in so many ways. A foster home would