What motivated you in High School
 

Scenario:
-9th Grade Boy
-Hooked on the video games
-75 on last spanish exam...does very well when he studies
-C on science - (Lab partner, friend, great kid but academically challenged - doesnt help). I said I dont care how but find a way to get it done...

The wife learned of the spanish quiz via the online Highschool reporting..Was asked do you have spanish to study" Answer No? Wife 'fuming'.

Present Status: All electronics taken away

Yes I know its not the end of the world but Ive been throught that college choice process with the older one and good grades provide choices...

Thoughts?

How about a good technical high school and college for programming. Academics are not for everyone. I went to a college prep high school, with a pretty stiff tuition, and wound up with a career in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Great pension and annuity plans, and outstanding health insurance (never took out my wallet while my 3 active boys were growing up).

Not everyone is born with the same abilities. When will we realize that. Language is very hard for some people, Math is very hard for some people and easy for others. Those who have ability in one may not have ability in another. Not everyone is college material, That doesn't make them not valuable, stupid or worthless. There is a need for all kinds of training and all kinds of work. We have become a society of academic snobs. I speak as a person who has two very different children, one who academically gifted and one who is not. More extreme than most people at either end.

I wish they still had shop in REGULAR high school, taught plumbing and basic electronics, all respected professions and needed professions.

If a kid is NOT motivated in high school by himself, no one can motivate him. That ship has sailed.

I may be wrong. I don't know this child. I feel for you and for him. I know you care deeply. He has to care deeply about disappointing your expectations and may have given up.

Girls.

When I was 15 and not really giving school much effort my father finally told me "It is up to you now. I am not going to push you any more. You are old enough to decide for yourself. Bear in mind the choices you make now and the effort you put into your studies will largely determine how you are able to live your life in the future."

Frankly, it shook me up but I buckled down and through a lot of hard work have led a good life, one which I never would have had had I not studied.

Other boys I knew went into the service, matured, got out and only then hit the books hard.

I think the parents should ask to review any SAT scores or intelligence tests that he has taken in the past (his guidance counselor should have). If he scored well on those, you may be right that he just needs motivation. If his scores were low, he may need help with school work (tutoring). The parents just need to do some research so they know how to start helping.

I'm still hooked on fonics.

perhaps one day he will design video games and other applications...if he is given encouragement rather than criticism.

Competition
 

My name began with an S and Lynn's name began with an R. We competed for grades in every subject. When she was injured and didn't come back to school my grades slipped a bit. Having a teacher tell me I was too darn smart to allow that to happen got me back on track. Thanks Teach!

Seriously I was not really motivated in school due to words and attitudes toward students of the guidance counselor. It took one teacher who spent every effort on her part to change how I looked at learning. She took time with every student reguardless of how much of her time it took. She made every student feel accepted and worthwhile. I believe what she taught me about myself helped me into future education and life. I wish I had her help years before that and what a difference it would have really made.

Tough age. What worked for me was a summer working the strawberry fields -- very hard labor with little reward. At the end of the summer my mother gently told me the choice was mine -- a life of hard labor or a career indoors. I preferred the indoor career.

Boys, and my mother threatening me that I better graduate or I was out of the house, the last one really motivated me:))

Somehow getting the point across that we are in charge of our own life and SOON is important. I knew that in high school. It was very real to me.

Give him a brochure for the U.S. Army.

1964-1968
Flunk out and off to Vietnam.