..... if the biology teacher calls me again I will not, and cannot, be held accountable for my actions. Seriously. Someone - will - be - harmed. I know she means well and I know she's young. But after the umpteenth call to me I would think she would get it: I can NOT make him feel motivated to do well in this class. I can NOT beat him until he gives in (trust me on this one). I can NOT threaten him with enough dire consequences to make him change his ways. I can NOT offer him millions of dollars in bribes to make him want to do well. Trust me on ALL of these because we've tried EVERYTHING!! I can NOT get her to understand any of this.
I listen to her, I write down everything she says he's missing or has failed or can make up. I even kindly tell her to not take this personally because she's too young to hate teaching yet.
Here's the last part of today's conversation:
Her: "So ...... do you have any questions?"
Me: "No."
Her: "O.K. ....... do you have any suggestions?" (she asks this every - single - time).
Me: "No. I wish I did, but I don't. Again, please don't take this personally. It's not just you or your class. We have not been able to find the button to push that will motivate him. Not in the last 15 years."
Her: "I know." pause ........ "I just hope that I don't have this problem with my children."
That's when I wanted to scream. That's not what I needed (or wanted) to hear.
Me: pause ..... "Well, I guess you never know. Each one is different."
Her: "Yeah, I guess. Well, good luck and have fun."
Yes, you read that right. "Have fun".
OK ..... I can take it. Tell me, am I overreacting?!
7 comments:
.... are you joking?
I'm pretty sure she could get in serious trouble for saying something like that.
You should report it. 'Cause that makes ME mad.
What the teacher said confirms she's young. You are wiser, way beyond her years..........turn a cheek.
As for biology... he's just not that into it. Some of us adults got bad grades in classes we hated but we survive today. I think he must be respectful to the teacher and the other students that do like biology. He must read and past tests (I think he has to do this in other classes, ones he may like) and one would think this would bring him to a decent grade at the end. If he understands the logic of this concept he can pull the needed grade and get on to the next class.
Don't start to doubt your parenting. Keep after it.........
It's a 12 step program, one day at a time. You're really, really, good at parenting your children.
It's not just biology. It's Math, Geography, English -- you know, all those CORE classes that you need to pass before you move on to 10th grade? Well, he's not moving on. Unless he can pass them in summer school. And I'm not even that will happen. He does NOT want to be in school. He does NOT want to do any work that would help him to pass (i.e. studying). And we have NOT found the secret motivation button on this kid. I think he's respectful enough -- he just doesn't care enough to pass.
His not-so-secret ambition in life is to live in our house and play on the computer all day.
Who wouldn't want that?!
I think the "have fun" part of the conversation had to be a nervous response from someone who is 1)immature 2)doesn't know what to say so she says something that she says to all her friends before she hangs up the phone, out of habit and 3)she's an idiot and that's why he could care a less about her class or all of the above.
You may try the technique that you WILL NOT pay for summer school and maybe he needs to start making friends with 8th graders because with any luck, the class of 2012 will be his graduating class because he will not pass the 9th grade. Just an idea.
Natalie
Oh please --- telling him we won't pay for summer school would be the best thing he could hear. He certainly doesn't have any money so it's not coming from him. And he doesn't seem to care that he'll be high school until he's 23. Trust me --- we have tried every tactic in the world. He - does - not - care.
Which is very difficult for 2 first-borns to understand and get a grasp of.
sigh
Im sorry J. As you know,he is a bulb that burns very brightly in this socket of life.He's just not into being a 120 watt in a 40 watt(his opinion) bio. class. I couldn't tell you what his currency is. I know he's charming,way too smart, and he's a keeper.That disarming smile... sorry, but that teacher just didn't get it. There are other arenas of life out there. This is just one place. A
Oh my gosh! She did not say that to you!!! Knowing me, I would have started crying and the saying things that I shouldn't have. Wait, knowing you, you would have too. Hummmm Kenya was berry berry good to you! LOL
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