Need some input regarding DS

[disneymom3]

I think the idea of having him pay for summer school upfront and you reimbursing him if he does well is an excellent one. That should provide some needed motivation!

I would make him go to SS too. On another note, is your earning back priveledges plan working? I thought that was absolutely brilliant.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I know how hard you struggle with him. However, he needs to go to summer school, he earned it.
If he doesn't want to go to summer school then he has to pass. You will find no better deterrent.

Paying for it up front and them reinbursing him is a great idea. Tell him he gets it all back if he gets an A, gets 75% back with a B, 50% back with a C and 25% with a D.

If he blows it then, he blows it. Have to keep trying.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I have some questions. Is he in a 9-12 high school or is 9th grade junior high? Do the 9th grade credits count toward graduation requirements or just 10-12 credits?

In our high schools, you get credits for the classes you pass, you retake the ones you don't. Which means some kids end up with heavy loads each year or going to summer school. Since you say he needs 6 credits to pass on to 10th grade, I am assuming these credits don't count to graduation or that he is in junior high?

 

[AC7179]

I would say make him go to summer school.

Does his school have an off campus PE option that maybe he could get credit for PE with? My daughter did that with dance this year and it was great for her schedule so she could add a Spanish class to her schedule.

I hope whatever you decide works for you.........and for him.

 

[Marseeya]

Thank you all for the input, I really appreciate it! You all helped sway my decision to convince him to go to summer school. It's a lousy 4 weeks out of his life, and the PE portion is only 2 weeks. He'll live. I told him this last night and explained my reasoning and he seemed resigned to it. Also, I love the idea of having him pay up front and "giving" him the money back that he's earned. There's no reason he shouldn't be able to make an A in English having an English teacher in the house (he never lets me help him), and as for phys ed, don't even get me started there. The reason he failed is because he refused to dress.

To answer one question, the high school is 9-12 and these credits count towards graduation.

 

[Tiggeroo]

good decision. If your goal is to get him thru hs you will have a hard time if he's over eighteen and doing a 5th year. He will want to quit just when he's almost there.

 

[Nicolepa]

Well I'd say he either has to do summer school (and pass) or work full time for the entire summer. If he's too young to get a job then he has to do volunteer work, full time. I wouldn't care what job he got, but he'd have to be doing something every day all day. He can't just not go to summer school and expect to be able to play.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

First, hugs to you because this parenting stuff is VERY hard!

Second, I would make DS go to summer school. Hello? TWO WEEKS of stupid PE versus another entire YEAR of PE? Isn't that kind of a no-brainer? I hated PE, truly hated everything about it, but I did manage to pass. At least in college there are options for the PE requirement so you can choose something you enjoy. High school PE sucks, it really does, but if that was standing between me and getting out of high school a year sooner then I would be all over that summer PE class. Have you pointed out to him that the sooner he finishes high school the sooner he can get on with the business of real life? I despised high school, so I understand his lack of interest. I didn't start taking college courses until I was 23 because I was so burned out on school. But my college GPA was 4.0. I paid for it myself, I chose my own classes, and I WANTED to do it.

I can also relate to the Algebra issue. To this day I can't do Algebra. I took Algebra in 8th grade and didn't comprehend a single concept. I took Geometry in 9th grade, failed, took it again in summer school and got a "C". I attempted Algebra II in 10th grade but it was painfully obvious that there was NO WAY I was going to be able to pass so I took Liberal Arts Math which was sort of a geometry/algebra mixture. In 11th grade I needed 1 more math credit but I could NOT get through any of the higher level math. Since that Algebra I class was in 8th grade they had me re-take it in 11th grade for credit. I took a remedial Algebra class in college and made an "A" but by the end of that semester I hadn't retained ANY of what I learned. I dropped the class the following semester because I just couldn't follow it. Help your DS look for options for those math credits. It appears my DS has my math ability (or lack thereof) so we will be watching for options as he gets closer to high school.

I think summer school is the lesser of the evils. Tell DS you will pay if he can pass, and point out to him that high school was not designed to be more than a 4 year experience. Good luck!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It appears my DS has my math ability (or lack thereof) so we will be watching for options as he gets closer to high school.

My dd just passed her Freshman year Alg 1 with a B with the help of a Math tutor. We are accelerated block schedules so you HAVE TO keep up.
DH and I know math but trying to get your kid on track with the class and pass the tests is a whole other ballgame.
It was not cheap, she charged 40 for a hour session, but it was well worth it.
She is very good and is a Special Ed teacher at the high school.