I totally understand how frustrating this is for you - but at 14 I think it's time to start letting our children experience some of the consequences of not towing the line when they need to. I also don't see this as a significant problem looking down the road re college apps etc - if he is really truly passionate about science, and he ends up in a boringly slow biology class in 9th grade, he still most likely can turn that around by doing well in his boring biology class and advocating for himself with the school to put him into honors physics or honors chemistry the following year.
If this was a case where he actually wanted to be in the honors section.. I think my suggestion for this coming year would be to take biology *this* summer and test out of the requirement all together, and advocate to place him in honors physics or honors chemistry as a 9th grader.
polarbear
Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately if he isn't in honors he will be in Earth Science, and the Biology in 10th grade. The good stuff gets farther and farther away. I did look into if I could put him in a science class in the summer. But logistically for a number of reasons it won't work. (To do with the schools policies & current summer plans) Might consider if for next summer depending on how things turn out.
At open house tonight I had a the first chance this year to talk with his humanities teacher. She is a G&T trained teacher, who has her own gifted kids. Give him some nice compliments and gave me support and confidence that my son is up to the challenge honors classes in H.S. And her "unoffical" opinion that I should go to the high school and fight for honors science.
