Post by nomorewirehanger on Feb 29, 2016 11:01:22 GMT -7
Every year the last three years we've had to sit down with the school counselors and B and discuss his scholastic "future."
Every year. It's the same. H or I (or in the instance of 8th grade...both) leave that meeting frustrated. Unheard. And knowing the school system is setting our kid up for imminent failure.
They look at his standardized test scores (typically always above average) his...mediocre grades (he's a B student. We are OK with that) and decide "you aren't being challenged enough. You need to be in Advanced placement courses"
What they DON'T see is the behind the scenes fight to get those damn B's in regular courses. (He's in AP biology and geometry and holding his own. Barely..
We tell them he hates reading. And will gladly fail a book report and take the consequences of that failure by doing extra credit to get out of reading that book.
We tell them ...flat out... AP history and English are fine for many children. He is not going to do the work. If he does it will be half assed because he wont have done the reading. Let's stick with getting a B in a regular course instead of failing AP and having it count as a D?
We are told "he wants to be a doctor. A surgeon. He needs AP to get the GPA and class placement to get into a competitive college so he can prepare for medical school"
Or. We can accept the fact that my kid...bright may he be...has the work ethic of a lethargic slug. That no one puts a scalpel into the hands of someone so severely ADD the regress ten years when off their meds...and accept that a state college or technical school with an emphasis in maths and sciences (the only subjects outside of band he likes) are more of a reality. And strive for those.
I fought hard for my kid today. Fought WITH my kid in the office and kept him out of AP English. (Thank.God) but he could not be persuaded to drop World History (social studies has been his worst subject since third grade...this is a NIGHTMARE scenario)
The counselor is mad at me for "hampering" my intelligent child.
My husband is mad at me for not throwing a fit and insisting he be pulled from the history course (I gave up arguing and just told him I expected a minimum of a B in there. He will do the work or he will drop the class. Period. L is pissed I "caved" )
My son is sad that I don't seem to believe in him....which. is frustrating. Because as I told him...I know he's CAPABLE. I also know I'm not holding his hand anymore. He's gotta learn personal accountability.
The only one not mad at me is H. Because she's been there in the room with me over the last few years and knows how these people don't listen.
Parental fail.
Every year. It's the same. H or I (or in the instance of 8th grade...both) leave that meeting frustrated. Unheard. And knowing the school system is setting our kid up for imminent failure.
They look at his standardized test scores (typically always above average) his...mediocre grades (he's a B student. We are OK with that) and decide "you aren't being challenged enough. You need to be in Advanced placement courses"
What they DON'T see is the behind the scenes fight to get those damn B's in regular courses. (He's in AP biology and geometry and holding his own. Barely..
We tell them he hates reading. And will gladly fail a book report and take the consequences of that failure by doing extra credit to get out of reading that book.
We tell them ...flat out... AP history and English are fine for many children. He is not going to do the work. If he does it will be half assed because he wont have done the reading. Let's stick with getting a B in a regular course instead of failing AP and having it count as a D?
We are told "he wants to be a doctor. A surgeon. He needs AP to get the GPA and class placement to get into a competitive college so he can prepare for medical school"
Or. We can accept the fact that my kid...bright may he be...has the work ethic of a lethargic slug. That no one puts a scalpel into the hands of someone so severely ADD the regress ten years when off their meds...and accept that a state college or technical school with an emphasis in maths and sciences (the only subjects outside of band he likes) are more of a reality. And strive for those.
I fought hard for my kid today. Fought WITH my kid in the office and kept him out of AP English. (Thank.God) but he could not be persuaded to drop World History (social studies has been his worst subject since third grade...this is a NIGHTMARE scenario)
The counselor is mad at me for "hampering" my intelligent child.
My husband is mad at me for not throwing a fit and insisting he be pulled from the history course (I gave up arguing and just told him I expected a minimum of a B in there. He will do the work or he will drop the class. Period. L is pissed I "caved" )
My son is sad that I don't seem to believe in him....which. is frustrating. Because as I told him...I know he's CAPABLE. I also know I'm not holding his hand anymore. He's gotta learn personal accountability.
The only one not mad at me is H. Because she's been there in the room with me over the last few years and knows how these people don't listen.
Parental fail.