I'm stuffed.
I promised the boys pizza and wings tonight, so we ordered pizza hut meat lovers and a bunch of wings.
One slice of meat lovers, and I feel like I'm gonna explode.
___________
Mark came home today and gave me a paper signed by the guidance office, singing him up for the new view program. It allows kids who hate school, to get their high school credits in half the time.
I think it even involves tech school, which is right down the road from us.
He said he did it because he understands that an education is important, and that dropping out is NOT an option I will ever give him, so he's going to take the alternate route and see how it goes for him.
I applaud his efforts and hope he actually goes through with this.
I told him last night that he has to get his diploma, he has no choice, I will not accept dropping out or failing out. I don't care how he does it, but he has to do it.
He feels bad that he hates school, said high school is not going how he planned it would in his head, but that he will at least give this program a try.
Why do some kids do so well until high school, and then suddenly they fail out, hate it, and want to drop out?
And no, he's not doing drugs or drinking. He's home every single day, and I don't allow him to hang out with the kids he knows who have admitted to drinking and stuff.
I just don't get this.
Comments
I can sort of see where Mark is coming from here. I HATED high school, and so did Mike. High school is hell on earth...it was back when I was there, and from what I hear, it has gotten worse. If you are *different* in any way, the other kids torture you. This is why I hated it, and I wonder if this is why Mark hates it.
The other problem is that school is just boring, in that he might be too smart for what they are teaching him. This was Mike's problem at school. I have no idea what they teach in high school these days, but it might well be way below Mark's intelligence level. That is enough to bore anyone to tears, and make them hate school.
Anyway, I am happy that Mark cares enough about his education to do something about it. Dropping out is indeed bad news. My loser brother quit school, and ended up as a druggie, who, last I heard, was in jail.
High school does suck ass, and if this program works for Mark, more power to him! I really hope it will work for him; I wish there was something like this around back when I was that age!
Posted by: Christine | May 9, 2007 8:23 PM
See... you do have an influence on your sons;) I looked at the courses offered to the high school students at SCTI and they really do offer a lot. Mark will probably enjoy it.
Posted by: Mindy | May 10, 2007 8:04 AM
Christine has a good point. He might be undermotivated because he's bored.
If he had some really amazing teachers who went the extra mile to make subjects interesting, things might be different.
Not to slag teachers, because they've got tough jobs, but the truly great ones are few and far between.
In high school, our history teacher spoke in a tired voice and looked tired. Her teaching style was dry as dust. We students would practically fall asleep on our desks (except it was a strict private girls' school, so we couldn't do that sort of thing).
Result? History bored me, and I didn't do well.
But now? I find history fascinating.
So, I think, partly it's teaching methods, and partly it's just age. Teens have a lot of other things on their minds - girls, cars, games, gadgets... and school just can't compete!
Posted by: lattegirl | May 10, 2007 9:44 AM
Why do some kids do so well until high school, and then suddenly they fail out, hate it, and want to drop out?
Here at least, the high schools are a dumbed down joke. Kids do more jumping through hoops than actual learning, and they are forced to take classes that don't interest them in order to graduate. It's frustrating to those who have good mental abilities or a good idea of what they want out of life.
I thnk the kids would be better off if the schools would allow more latitude in course selection. If you already know you want to be a stone mason, do you really need algebra 2 for that? If you want to be an English teacher, do you really need advanced physics? If you've already mastered calculus, should you really have to take a course in geometry just because said geometry course isn't on your transcript? D'uh, if you know calc, you know geometry.
Oops, I think I just made a post in your comment section.
Posted by: Cass | May 12, 2007 7:35 PM