Academic Problems???

Peter:

You said:

"If anyone thinks I'm over reacting to my son's grades I'd like to hear from
you."

When an 11 year old boy with well above average grades is told that he must
choose which activity he will loose if he brings home another C in Science,
HE IS BEING VERY SEVERLY PUNISHED! I to am the father of an "intellegent"
son. He is in gifted classes in 7th grade. He has a strong aptitude for
science but still brought home a C last year. (Some parents pray for such
a grade.) It was his only C but he got it three times. (Such a problem?)
Rather than punish him we investigated where the problems were, helped him
learn to manage his time, and let him know that as long as he did his best
and convinced us that he was doing so, We would be satisfied with anything
but an F, which in our district means the student has been a problem and
is not even trying.

Don't get me wrong, Grades are important, but not that important. What is
much more important, is supportive, AVAILABLE parents. I have seen young
men totaly (to criminality) destroyed by their over involved and over
zealous parents who demanded more than they should have.

I do not want to point any weapon at you other than a mirror.
Have you totaly succeeded in everything you have ever done?
You say you and your wife wear multiple scouting hats.
Do you need to QUIT read SAY NO! several of your positions so as to allow
yourself to be more available to your child?

I am lucky, My wife will not tolerate my tendency to become over involved.
When I fail to say NO or fail to put the family first, SHE PUTS A STOP TO IT
in no uncertain terms. This has helped me to be a better Scoutmaster since
it has forced me to delegate some tasks (such as roundtabel attendance and
monthly hikes but not campouts or troop or PLC or Committee meetings) to
my assistants.

I'm sorry, but I think you better look at which activity you need to drop.

Let the child be a child for a couple more years.

Yours in Service
Yours in Scouting
I used to be an Eagle NE-V-19-20
Eagle Scout Class of 1967
Vigil-Wagion Lodge 6

(Mr.) Gary W. Sherwin SM
Troop 461 Yukon, Pa.
sherwin@sunshine.pgh.wec.com

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