It's complicated. He USED to love science. Up till junior high.. He is very interested in taking both Physics and Chemistry. Not so much Geology or Biology which are the only options offered for freshman. At this point math is by far his favorite class. The homework is predictable, it's challenging and interesting. My son has shown that he does much better in classes that he is challenged and not in classes that are just a lot of busy work. Administrators & teachers admit this, all except his current science teacher.

It is true that 4 honors classes in my H.S. is a HUGE amount of homework. And I can understand his reluctance. He is planing on joining Marching Band, and that will take up more of his free time. I would prefer he take honors Biology, and skip honors English but at this point that isn't an option. He isn't very interested in literary analysis.

The reason he isn't recommended for honors next year, is the school has a requirement that he get a 96% or better in science. He has a 99% on the tests for the year, but the homework/seatwork is the problem. He just doesn't work well with the nit picky way this teacher grades the homework. (On completion) It's the busy work that is keeping him back. My experience is that 9th grade science is just more of the same and doing more busy work isn't going teach him anything.

A friend who's kid is in the honors class this year told me the honors class is HUGE(47 kids) and the teachers look for anything to drop them back to the regular class. The kids have to be self motivated, and there is a huge amount work is writing up labs. This is what makes me ambivalent.

So while one part of me, knows that my son doesn't do well unless he is challenged. Part of me doesn't want the stress if/when he gets buried in the homework. Honestly what I would like at this point isn't really an option. Have him NOT take science at all, but take it next summer at a local private school instead. I am sure he can do the material. He probably could have done it in 6th or 7th grade.

Forgot to mention. With a 14 yr old, it get tiring trying to fight when he doesn't show much enthusiasm for it.

Last edited by bluemagic; 05/14/13 05:43 PM.