To Both Holly and Eric,
My advice is to find something that they do love, something that will create a spark of enthusiasm. That thing may not be school and it may never be school. I come from a family of highly gifted people who hated school, but went on to be successful as farmers, fisherman, sailors, pilots, and leaders in the community. They invent stuff in their basements that other people copy. They are happy adults. The thing that they have in common was that, even though, they hated and resented school, there was something that they did love. In most of their cases, they learned best by doing rather than watching or listening. They suffered through school, but came home and took apart engines or built model airplanes. There are other kids who love art, music, sports, studying subjects not taught in depth in school. There are kids who join ham radio clubs and others who join the society for creative anachronism.
I would encourage you to put getting them to like school on hold (if you have tried everything and its not working) and find something else in their life that might ignite a spark or love of learning and exploration. Make sure there is at least one thing that makes them tick that they have time and resources to explore--that will keep them sane. At least that what has worked for my brothers, father, and uncles.
