On the other hand, the "why do I need to learn this-- it's stupid" thing tends to be best resolved, as someone else has noted, with greater DIFFICULTY. Show the necessity not with simple examples (as most schools are wont to do for 'beginning' learners of concepts) but with examples which actually demonstrate a NEED for the tool/concept.
That may just her learning style.
She may not be able to properly incorporate (in her view) or internalize the information without a more holistic view of the subject at hand.
