|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
teen failing school - 3/10/2010 5:06:37 PM
|
|
|
crazemom
Posts: 36
Status: offline
|
My oldest son is failing school. He is in 10th grade. He has been homeschooled most, but not all of his life. He is in a very small school of only 40 kids. This is not an adjustment to school issue. He has always had this problem from 1st grade. I remember saying when he was 7 he could not finish his work even if he was promised a trip to Disneyland. He could sit for 6 hours with one math paper and NOT finish it or cause a disruption, just sit there in his head. Not much has changed. This has been a problem whether homeschooled, private school or public school. We've done it all!
Yes I know he probably has ADD and yes recently we decided to try meds for ADD, but decided that was not for our family and he is now on a natural supplement. Apparently it is not helping. Before you talk ADD and meds let me say that he has a lifetime of habits and really just doesn't care at all so I don't see how meds would make a difference. Meds can not make a person care.
I have no clue what to do. He really doesn't have anything left to take away and frankly doesn't respond to any consequences anyway, never has. He is a good kid other than simply very, very lazy. He is 16, but we don't want him to just drop out of school and become a bum. But he has said "I don't care about school. It's just a waste of time." 
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/10/2010 7:04:23 PM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 4245
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: online
|
Can he pass the GED test? If so, have him take it and go get a job. Or just have him go get a job.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/10/2010 7:25:26 PM
|
|
|
Hislittleone
Posts: 586
Joined: 7/13/2007
From: The South
Status: offline
|
Has he been tested for ADD or any type of learning disability? If he does have ADD or a LD and it's gone untreated so to speak all these years, he could just be frustrated and feel like there's no use even trying because it's so hard.
It's difficult to get my son to do his school work but we just keep pushing him to get it done. I can understand how frustrating it is but I don't think I'd give up on him finishing school just yet. Does he have any talents, abilities, or special interests? What does he want to do with the rest of his life (i.e. what does he want to be when he grows up)?
_____________________________
Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/10/2010 7:34:34 PM
|
|
|
deermousie
Posts: 2695
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: online
|
Have you had him professionally examined? We're just a bunch of people on the internet. I have suggestions but you need to take them with a grain of salt.
Would you say he has more problems with his "I will" than with his "IQ"?
If the former, then you've got a character/laziness/obedience problem. If the latter, then you've got a learning problem.
If he is lazy, then I'd recommend that you let him drop out (this school year sounds like it's a bust anyway; see if your laws will let him be out of school), make a contract with him that he has to start paying for food and rent, and let him get some entry-level job. And let him buy his own clothes, toys and snacks. Look up Tough Love.
If he refuses to work, strip his room. Take his clothes, toys and bedding. Let him "buy" them back.
When he's sick of having to work hard in bad circumstances for peanuts, he may be ready to go back to school and better his prospects.
I spent two summers working at a fast food dive, and it drove me through college. I wanted a better life than that.
If he has a learning problem, then get professional help, and start capitalizing on whatever he's good at (they say to never trust a car mechanic who can spell - is he good at fixing things? He'll never go hungry).
So find out what it is you're dealing with, and start dealing with it. Get all the help you can, look stuff up on the internet, and pray like crazy because God changes people. God bless you guys.
_____________________________
People died to give you the Bible in your language.
Read it. Eat it. Dwell in it. Rightly divide it. Live it.
Laugh, dance, praise your God, and go read some more. And God bless you.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/11/2010 10:08:27 AM
|
|
|
christsstar
Posts: 2133
Joined: 4/8/2005
Status: offline
|
Dh and I are in the same boat with both of his children. They are 13 and 15 and dont' care about school. His son, 15, brought home a report card last semester that had 5 Fs, a D and a C. He failed PE!!! That's how little he cares.
The only reason he does homework is because we force him to sit down and do it. But he lies about what homework he has most nights and gets away with not doing them. He doesn't keep his notebook organized and therefore didn't turn the notebook in for the notebook check, which amounted to 50% of his grade. His grade dropped from a B to a 44%. And he doesn't care. All he cares about is his girlfriend.
He now has a high-risk counselor and will probably end up in summer school and night school if he wants to graduate on time. And that's just for last semester's classes. No idea what will happen if he fails the spring semester too. He'll be in school for an extra year.
The kid is super smart; he just doesn't care!!!!
We have an added complication of 2-houses parenting and his mom and his dad aren't always on the same page as far as discipline and such.
Ultimately he thinks he knows everything he needs to know in life to survive and doesn't need school anymore. He doesn't understand what he'll learn in school that will help him later in life.
Our solution is for him to take the GED this summer if he doesn't pass his classes. But not sure if his mom will go for it.
At any rate ......... I feel your pain. I wish I had a solution for you. If you come up with something that works, let me know. Maybe it'll work on my step kids as well.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/11/2010 10:24:23 AM
|
|
|
bolt.
Posts: 2375
Joined: 4/29/2005
From: Canada
Status: offline
|
I think that in some cases high school is an exercise in frustration that ruins the character and work ethic of a very important segment of society with God-given non-intellectual talents and temperaments.
I think it's insane to consider it mandatory for all people, and yet our society does expect it even for the most basic of jobs. It's a crummy no-win scenario for parents of such wonderful teens that are being driven into the ground on a daily basis.
Is it possible to buy into an understanding that says, "I know it's crummy, but consider it hazing of an intellectual ruling class, and try to keep your head above water. You don't have to work any harder than a C, and we'll try to find ways of getting you out sooner rather than later -- if we can do it while keeping your record looking OK for the people who are going to look at it."
_____________________________
Are you having trouble getting your daily dose of the life changing Word of God?
Let my friend Brian at Daily Audio Bible help you too.
>>audio link<<
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/11/2010 11:39:29 AM
|
|
|
GlassMoonWaltzes
Posts: 2441
Joined: 8/9/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
I think that in some cases high school is an exercise in frustration that ruins the character and work ethic of a very important segment of society with God-given non-intellectual talents and temperaments.
I think it's insane to consider it mandatory for all people, and yet our society does expect it even for the most basic of jobs. It's a crummy no-win scenario for parents of such wonderful teens that are being driven into the ground on a daily basis.
Ditto that. I've said that on here before, but got shot down (particularly in kicka). To the oper..I was thinking maybe your son could get his GED, go into the army for awhile, and then continue his education when he is ready.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/12/2010 9:28:16 AM
|
|
|
LMKH
Posts: 124
Status: offline
|
ADD is a real problem. I am very anti-mediation myself. But, if things have come to this, and he has no other health issues and he is..16? Then I would suggest trying a low dose of ADHD medication.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/12/2010 9:32:06 AM
|
|
|
LMKH
Posts: 124
Status: offline
|
Let me explain another way...ADD is real. Just like diabetes is real. Would you withhold insulin from a diabetic? If you read my history of posts, you will see that I usually say no to meds. My 15 yr old is currently unmedicated too. But, at this point, with the problems you are having, it would be great if you hugged him and told him you love him and treat him with the highest level of love and tell him you know he can do it. Even if you have your doubts, letting he think you have all the faith in him will give him that boost that could help him do better. And medicate. Because it seems to me you have done all you can and he has done all he can and it is time to try something different. Most ADHD meds only need to be taken on school days, so he won't even be on it over the summer or on weekends. You can email me and I can talk more about my personal experiences if you wish.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/17/2010 10:55:05 AM
|
|
|
EsonTheSearcher
Posts: 640
Joined: 4/25/2009
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels
quote:
I think that in some cases high school is an exercise in frustration that ruins the character and work ethic of a very important segment of society with God-given non-intellectual talents and temperaments.
I think it's insane to consider it mandatory for all people, and yet our society does expect it even for the most basic of jobs. It's a crummy no-win scenario for parents of such wonderful teens that are being driven into the ground on a daily basis.
Ditto that. I've said that on here before, but got shot down (particularly in kicka). To the oper..I was thinking maybe your son could get his GED, go into the army for awhile, and then continue his education when he is ready.
(1) If the teen is so wonderful and intelligent...he should his school work.
(2) The Military branches strictly limit the number of people that they will take with a GED. The reason I was told (when my nephew, sorry and lazy in school, tried this) was that,
"If you could not finish high school I doubt seriously you will make in the Air Force..."
So don't just assume he can join. My nephew's problem was that all thru high he was told "if you learn to throw a basketball you can join in the NBA.." And his parents encouraged this. Nothing wrong with ball, but they told him this so much that he literally thought that he could go thru highschool and fail every subject and the Principal would hand him a diploma based soley on his basketball performance. Obviously, that did not happen.
So he quit and tried to join Air Force. The above statement is what he got
when he went to the recruiting office. So he went back to high school and fininshed two years later than he should have.
My grandmother told me once that her and her siblings were the first people in her family that actually went to school and learned to do both. Her parents could do niether. There was a time in this country when a person go not go to school at all...could not read nor write and still amount to something in the job field. Those days are gone. This teen in the OP sounds like he needs real attention...not someone trying to justify his laziness.
< Message edited by EsonTheSearcher -- 3/17/2010 12:48:54 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/21/2010 2:41:43 PM
|
|
|
sen10tious
Posts: 213
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Southern US
Status: offline
|
If you are willing to consider an alternative secular resource...
Teenage Liberation Handbook--How to quit school and get a real life and education
It is endorsed by John Taylor Gatto:
Sooner or later you're going to realize that you've been cheated out of a real life by missing a real education-when that time comes Grace Llewellyn's Handbook will save you a thousand hours of frustration, false starts and missed opportunities. Anyone who follows this clear blueprint is certain to meet the future with courage, enthusiasm, resourcefulness and the abundant love of life that the author has. She demonstrates brilliantly that school and education are two very different things, defining the latter precisely and with such a wonderful zest the reader is left dazzled with his own rich possibilities.
Bullet points from an ad:
•good reasons to think about quitting school.
•how to reclaim your natural ability to learn and teach yourself.
•how to get your parents? support, keep your friends, and stay out of legal trouble.
•how to design a personalized education you can get excited about.
•how to go to college without going to high school.
•how to find volunteer positions, apprenticeships, and other work opportunities.
Amazon to search inside:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0962959170
It is out of print, and the next edition is penciled in to come out next January. There are ebook forms and downloads floating around, but I haven't tried them--too worried about computer security.
The author, Grace Llewellyn, is an unschooling advocate. The book is rooted in the philosophy of John Holt.
_____________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/21/2010 5:42:05 PM
|
|
|
WasLostAmFound
Posts: 547
Status: offline
|
As of right now, there is no branch of the military that will take anyone with just a GED. My 19 year old son has been trying to go in, and even with stellar ASVAB scores, they won't touch him unless he gets 15 college credits with at least a 2.5 GPA.
His ASVAB scores were high enough that he could choose to do anything he wants. IF he had that diploma, he'd have shipped a long time ago. However, he is now looking at going to the local 2 year school to get those 15 gen ed credits THEN go in. So, the earliest he could ship would be January 2011. My older son got in with a GED but that was almost 4 years ago. Since then, with the downturn in the economy, the standards have tightened, because they can!
I spoke with the Navy recruiter...they have literally 100's of kids coming in, looking for an easy way to avoid finishing high school. The recruiter sends them back telling them to get their diploma.
FTR...none of my 3 kids finished high school...for a variety of reasons...boredom, lack of challenge, lack of accountability. I had a conversation with a truant officer about one of my children's lack of attendance. I told him that although I agreed that education was important, once the child lost interest, there wasn't a whole lot I could do. I offered to permit them to chain him to a chair, but they said they couldn't do that...my reply was that there were too many doors for the kids to just walk out of. The sad part is that it's more of the bright kids quitting.
_____________________________
Formerly known as NotDoneYet...but...God had other plans!!!! My new blog... http://retirednavywife.wordpress.com/
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/21/2010 7:41:29 PM
|
|
|
GlassMoonWaltzes
Posts: 2441
Joined: 8/9/2007
Status: offline
|
Ok, so military not an option.
Maybe get a GED, work a menial job for however long. Then he may come to realize he is bored to tears, and not going anywhere, enroll in a 2 yr. college, get good grades, get an AA and transfer to a 4 yr. college and do well.
My dad quit high school b/cause he hated it so much. Did a menial job for a year. Met an old guy who'd been doing it forever, and was miserable, realized he didn't want to end up the same way. Went back to high school, got good grades, went to college, went on to get 2 masters.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/22/2010 11:09:34 AM
|
|
|
mamajennleigh
Posts: 1064
Joined: 12/6/2007
From: Fuquay-Varina, NC
Status: offline
|
I am in much of the same boat as some of the others here. My 17 year old decided to quit school a few weeks ago after being absent for several days due to a bad case of the flu. He's been toying with the idea for a long time. Now I don't know what to do with him. He still hasn't gotten a job, and I am at my wits' end with him. My husband is ready to kick him out, rather than continue letting him live here paying no rent, doing no real chores, and doing nothing really productive. He's setting a horrible example for his three younger brothers.
I spoke with the guidance office at the high school. After 16, there's nothing they will do here to keep the kids from dropping out. It's so frustrating!
_____________________________
We may not have arrived, but Praise the Lord we've set sail!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/22/2010 12:49:19 PM
|
|
|
bolt.
Posts: 2375
Joined: 4/29/2005
From: Canada
Status: offline
|
A transition to a paid 'room and board' situation is in order for your son.
On the one hand: He is not doing something evil in deciding that the education that high school offers him is not useful to him -- that's his call, and he may well be wise so far as that is concerned... and even if he's not, there is no sense in eroding the relationship between you with that subtle sense of condemnation or failure that might be going on in your home. (I mean 'might' -- I obviously don't know!)
On the other hand: Those who are not students are not entitled to live rent-free in your home. It's yours and you decide how to use it, and 'offspring of my loins' is not a free pass to live there as long as one wants. You provide free housing until 16 for all children, plus for any offspring of any age who are studying full time, including summer breaks if the following year is registered for. To those adults (however they are related to you) who do not qualify to stay for free, you make the following reasonable and cheerful offer. (NOT a punishment, just a change in arrangements to reflect, and respect, his new status.)
1) Rental of a room, with access to other public areas of the home
2) Provision of meals, at meal times, or access to food items at other times, subject to limits
3) Use of household items and services (TV, phone, Internet etc.) at the discretion of the homeowners
4) A house key for ease of access, conditional on their coming and going not causing undue stress to other household members. (A late arrival plan might need to be discussed.)
The cost of the above is <cost> per month on a no-chore plan, or you also offer a discount as low as <cost> per month if a chore agreement can be arranged.
This is only offered to renters who are clean, sober, and not sexually active. Renters are also expected to treat all other household members with respect and kindness, and to observe certain rules of propriety due to the homeowners' obligation to raise small children in a wholesome environment.
Your son has, maybe 2 weeks to decide if he is interested in this offer, at which point he can have a month's grace period to accumulate his first month's rent and for you both to assess whether the chore plan or no-chore plan is right for him. (Or that month to arrange to move out.) Either his rent or his housekey is due on the 31st of April.
You could also accept rent on a half-monthly basis, if that seems better to you -- or even for the first week, if the grace period has not been enough, but he is showing a good intent.
_____________________________
Are you having trouble getting your daily dose of the life changing Word of God?
Let my friend Brian at Daily Audio Bible help you too.
>>audio link<<
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/22/2010 1:56:21 PM
|
|
|
ForgivenGrace
Posts: 4648
Joined: 5/11/2005
From: Wherever God plants me.
Status: online
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: LMKH
ADD is a real problem. I am very anti-mediation myself. But, if things have come to this, and he has no other health issues and he is..16? Then I would suggest trying a low dose of ADHD medication.
I agree. I have had a Learning Difference/Disability all my life. And I sometimes think that people who don't have one don't understand. The pain we go through because we can't do things the way "normal" students do.
So they suggest a menial job or the military or taking things away. Believing that it will help.
It is NOT a problem. I have had almost all my teachers treat me as I was a problem.
As for sitting still for six hours very few people can do that.
_____________________________
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
~Dr. Seuss
Formally known as saraimay75
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/22/2010 2:05:57 PM
|
|
|
christsstar
Posts: 2133
Joined: 4/8/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: NotDoneYet
As of right now, there is no branch of the military that will take anyone with just a GED. My 19 year old son has been trying to go in, and even with stellar ASVAB scores, they won't touch him unless he gets 15 college credits with at least a 2.5 GPA.
His ASVAB scores were high enough that he could choose to do anything he wants. IF he had that diploma, he'd have shipped a long time ago. However, he is now looking at going to the local 2 year school to get those 15 gen ed credits THEN go in. So, the earliest he could ship would be January 2011. My older son got in with a GED but that was almost 4 years ago. Since then, with the downturn in the economy, the standards have tightened, because they can!
I spoke with the Navy recruiter...they have literally 100's of kids coming in, looking for an easy way to avoid finishing high school. The recruiter sends them back telling them to get their diploma.
FTR...none of my 3 kids finished high school...for a variety of reasons...boredom, lack of challenge, lack of accountability. I had a conversation with a truant officer about one of my children's lack of attendance. I told him that although I agreed that education was important, once the child lost interest, there wasn't a whole lot I could do. I offered to permit them to chain him to a chair, but they said they couldn't do that...my reply was that there were too many doors for the kids to just walk out of. The sad part is that it's more of the bright kids quitting.
when did this take effect? I know someone who got his GED through the army and is now active.
My husband, who was a marine, says that the marines will take you with a HS diploma, no GED, but no college is required. If they required college, there wouldn't be any non-officers to run the joint.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/22/2010 7:08:21 PM
|
|
|
WasLostAmFound
Posts: 547
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: christsstar
quote:
ORIGINAL: NotDoneYet
As of right now, there is no branch of the military that will take anyone with just a GED. My 19 year old son has been trying to go in, and even with stellar ASVAB scores, they won't touch him unless he gets 15 college credits with at least a 2.5 GPA.
His ASVAB scores were high enough that he could choose to do anything he wants. IF he had that diploma, he'd have shipped a long time ago. However, he is now looking at going to the local 2 year school to get those 15 gen ed credits THEN go in. So, the earliest he could ship would be January 2011. My older son got in with a GED but that was almost 4 years ago. Since then, with the downturn in the economy, the standards have tightened, because they can!
I spoke with the Navy recruiter...they have literally 100's of kids coming in, looking for an easy way to avoid finishing high school. The recruiter sends them back telling them to get their diploma.
FTR...none of my 3 kids finished high school...for a variety of reasons...boredom, lack of challenge, lack of accountability. I had a conversation with a truant officer about one of my children's lack of attendance. I told him that although I agreed that education was important, once the child lost interest, there wasn't a whole lot I could do. I offered to permit them to chain him to a chair, but they said they couldn't do that...my reply was that there were too many doors for the kids to just walk out of. The sad part is that it's more of the bright kids quitting.
when did this take effect? I know someone who got his GED through the army and is now active.
My husband, who was a marine, says that the marines will take you with a HS diploma, no GED, but no college is required. If they required college, there wouldn't be any non-officers to run the joint.
My older son went in in 2007 with a GED. Now, in 2010, no GED. If you have a diploma, no college is required. No diploma, you need college. I think things changed in the last year or so. I've talked to the recruiters myself, so I know that what my son is telling me is not baloney.
When my older son went in, he had to get his GED BEFORE they'd even let him take the ASVAB. But, it's tightening up again...
to the OP...if your son REALLY doesn't want to go to school, then let him get the GED...IF he has plans to go on. Here the local community college will admit students with a GED, and they can transfer to a 4 year school after they complete the 2 years. So...in that case, the GED doesn't really hurt them...other than that, i'd strongly suggest something like Job Corps...
_____________________________
Formerly known as NotDoneYet...but...God had other plans!!!! My new blog... http://retirednavywife.wordpress.com/
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/22/2010 8:17:30 PM
|
|
|
sen10tious
Posts: 213
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Southern US
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: christsstar
when did this take effect? I know someone who got his GED through the army and is now active.
Here you go...
quote:
NEW YORK cnn.com -- The nation's armed services wrapped up a record year for recruiting as a withering job market and bigger bonuses trumped two unpopular wars.
The Department of Defense said it met or exceeded recruitment goals for all branches of the armed services for fiscal year 2009, which ended Sept. 30, for the first time since 1973, when the draft ended and U.S. forces withdrew from Vietnam.
The Pentagon also exceeded its quality goals, as 96% of the active-duty recruits were high-school graduates, surpassing a 90% benchmark.
Following the link to the article will give more info on salaries, signing bonuses, and a tidbit on obesity, but the gist of it is that in a tanking economy more people are considering the military a layoff-proof alternative. It is supply and demand, so they don't have to take the drop-outs to meet their goals.
For my son, who has a homeschooling diploma & transcripts, the Air Force took NINE MONTHS to certify him for qualifying as tier 1. It was really a longer wait than that because the recruiter spent over two months before that trying to figure out who in the chain of command needed to approve his diploma. It might have been faster to take a semester at a community college, which was the alternative.
also
In my earlier post I wanted to include, but forgot to say that that book, The Teenage Liberation Handbook, is particularly good for active ADD-types.
_____________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/23/2010 10:32:28 AM
|
|
|
christsstar
Posts: 2133
Joined: 4/8/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: NotDoneYet
quote:
ORIGINAL: christsstar
quote:
ORIGINAL: NotDoneYet
As of right now, there is no branch of the military that will take anyone with just a GED. My 19 year old son has been trying to go in, and even with stellar ASVAB scores, they won't touch him unless he gets 15 college credits with at least a 2.5 GPA.
His ASVAB scores were high enough that he could choose to do anything he wants. IF he had that diploma, he'd have shipped a long time ago. However, he is now looking at going to the local 2 year school to get those 15 gen ed credits THEN go in. So, the earliest he could ship would be January 2011. My older son got in with a GED but that was almost 4 years ago. Since then, with the downturn in the economy, the standards have tightened, because they can!
I spoke with the Navy recruiter...they have literally 100's of kids coming in, looking for an easy way to avoid finishing high school. The recruiter sends them back telling them to get their diploma.
FTR...none of my 3 kids finished high school...for a variety of reasons...boredom, lack of challenge, lack of accountability. I had a conversation with a truant officer about one of my children's lack of attendance. I told him that although I agreed that education was important, once the child lost interest, there wasn't a whole lot I could do. I offered to permit them to chain him to a chair, but they said they couldn't do that...my reply was that there were too many doors for the kids to just walk out of. The sad part is that it's more of the bright kids quitting.
when did this take effect? I know someone who got his GED through the army and is now active.
My husband, who was a marine, says that the marines will take you with a HS diploma, no GED, but no college is required. If they required college, there wouldn't be any non-officers to run the joint.
My older son went in in 2007 with a GED. Now, in 2010, no GED. If you have a diploma, no college is required. No diploma, you need college. I think things changed in the last year or so. I've talked to the recruiters myself, so I know that what my son is telling me is not baloney.
When my older son went in, he had to get his GED BEFORE they'd even let him take the ASVAB. But, it's tightening up again...
to the OP...if your son REALLY doesn't want to go to school, then let him get the GED...IF he has plans to go on. Here the local community college will admit students with a GED, and they can transfer to a 4 year school after they complete the 2 years. So...in that case, the GED doesn't really hurt them...other than that, i'd strongly suggest something like Job Corps...
Thank you for that information.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/23/2010 11:32:09 AM
|
|
|
Auben
Posts: 1154
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
|
I agree that not every teen is cut out to follow the same path (high school, job, college), but this also reminds me of that episode of The Cosby Show where Theo decided he didn't need to work in school because he'd be a bus driver. Sometimes teens just don't have an understanding of what things cost and how much money they need to make to get those things. It's very difficult for teens who have always had support to understand how what they're doing now effects their future.
If it was my child I would sit them down with paper and pencil and figure out what:
what they want to do with their life
how they expect to support themselves
what skills they need to get there
A teen who doesn't want to work or go to school needs to have a plan to transition into the adult world. You can't act like an adult without adult responsibilities. Not every person understands this without going and experiencing it themselves. Sometimes you have to let them get beat up by the world a little bit and fight back against the world to learn these things.
BTW, many libraries have The Teenage Liberation Handbook, if you'd like to look through a copy and see if it would be helpful.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/23/2010 11:34:00 AM
|
|
|
bolt.
Posts: 2375
Joined: 4/29/2005
From: Canada
Status: offline
|
quote:
this also reminds me of that episode of The Cosby Show where Theo decided he didn't need to work in school because he'd be a bus driver.
I remember that episode! Didn't the parents go into a crazy 'act' to emphasise how one gets treated if one wants to be an adult? Calling him 'Mr' and such?
_____________________________
Are you having trouble getting your daily dose of the life changing Word of God?
Let my friend Brian at Daily Audio Bible help you too.
>>audio link<<
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/23/2010 12:33:14 PM
|
|
|
Auben
Posts: 1154
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
|
Yep, first his dad had a talk with him. They had a talk using monopoly money to demonstrate how much bus drivers make then showing how money gets used for apartments, furniture, food, clothes, dates, movies, etc. He had no money at the end.
Then there was the scene where they pretended he was a tenet at their apartment and he had to 'pay' for furniture, rent, food, etc. He even tried to get a loan from the 'bank.' It's hard to be considered a good risk when you have no diploma, no money, no job.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/23/2010 12:59:20 PM
|
|
|
christsstar
Posts: 2133
Joined: 4/8/2005
Status: offline
|
That episode has been playing through my mind over and over the last few weeks. We almost used a similar tactic, but couldn't figure out the best way implement the plan.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: teen failing school - 3/24/2010 12:28:59 AM
|
|
|
GlassMoonWaltzes
Posts: 2441
Joined: 8/9/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: ForgivenGrace
quote:
ORIGINAL: LMKH
ADD is a real problem. I am very anti-mediation myself. But, if things have come to this, and he has no other health issues and he is..16? Then I would suggest trying a low dose of ADHD medication.
I agree. I have had a Learning Difference/Disability all my life. And I sometimes think that people who don't have one don't understand. The pain we go through because we can't do things the way "normal" students do.
So they suggest a menial job or the military or taking things away. Believing that it will help.
It is NOT a problem. I have had almost all my teachers treat me as I was a problem.
As for sitting still for six hours very few people can do that.
I do too. I just didn't get the impression that was the issue in this teen's life.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
Christine 
