In my last post I made a reference to some problems I had in school and based on these problems my son's personality causes me some concern. When I was in grade school I was considered a sweet child that rarely had to be disciplined. I was shy and participated very little in class. My grades were good so no one challenged what I knew.
What my teachers failed to realize was that I was dyslexic. They let me slide by year after year while I became increasingly confused at the next level. Since I didn't know that I was any different than the other kids I just went along hoping it would click in one day. By the time I hit high school there were so many of the basics that I had missed that I struggled to keep up.
Looking back it's easy to see that if just one person would have looked past my personality it would have been obvious that my skills were severely lacking. I was passing my test because I could memorise the material the night before but in most cases failed to grasp the concepts of what I was being taught. Many teachers took me under their wing, and let me slide. Trust me, in an all boy military high school teachers will leave an average student alone, if he's not making trouble.
So this is why as much as I love my son's charming ways I plan to make sure his adorable smile is not the key to his future. I want him to reach his full potential. There is no substitute for good study habits and good work ethics. Popularity is great but it can't replace a solid education.
5 comments:
It's very cool that you're looking out for him RT!
It's good that you realize what could happen! I wish I had learned more of how to do well at school through highschool as opposed to learning how to work the system. It's hitting me hard now that I don't know how to study, or how to take good notes, or basically do anything but absorb knowledge immediately. If I miss that, I'm up a certain creek. My high school missed the boat majorly with me. It's unfortunate that all of the attention gets put upon those who are having major visible trouble in school. Just because someone is doing well on tests doesn't mean they are learning anything. Keep up the good work of making sure your son gets a solid education!
~^~
oh yes, I can see what you mean now. Well all I can say is good luck and he's lucky to have someone to notice :)
With charm AND an education, he'll be devastating. Look out, young ladies of our next generation! Here comes RT, Jr.!!!
:-)
My son, too, got all the way through high school before we knew he was dyslexic. We wanted to get him some training (there are great techniques taught now for people who suffer from dyslexia), but he said that he had pretty much already figured out what works for him. His absolute loathing of reading makes so much more sense now.
Believe me, we felt terrible when we learned how easy it would have been to save him from the academic struggling he endured during his young life. Thank God for baseball - without it, he would not have had the motivation to even try.
I'm sorry you had to endure the same. If you're interested, there are excellent training programs that teach dyslexic people how to "navigate" reading, etc, with your especially unique brains.
I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again - your children are lucky to have you. :-)
Thanks guys :) I'm doing my best to earn my title "parent".
Good observation Wookie, the struggling student or the star student seem to get all the attention.
Daughter: I know how your son feels. After years of developing a style I can work with, it would be strange to do it another way. For me it's just having the time to go at my own pace. Unfortunately, you don't have that option in the academic world. I love to read now, I spent the last 10 years going back and reading all the classics I skipped in school. :)
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