As previous posters have said, it is very validating for a child - no matter what their age - to come to their parent(s) with concerns and be taken seriously.
Another personal story: Our DS8 endured public school until he just couldn't anymore - 2 days after returning from winter break he finally verbalized it. And he was right, absolutely right. As it happened, he only had one more day in the situation before we pulled him out - to homeschool/alternative public school. And our DS changed back to his loving, excited, enthusiastic, self-directed learning personality.
