He has some tough stuff this time including Physics and Trig.

(considers joke about Palin's baby...decides against)

Now if only we could get him to do his homework

What is with that? I don't mean Brendon in particular, I just mean in general. Why is it so, like... anathema to so many students?

I feel like I just used anathema wrong, but fuck it. I'm having a crappy week for no reason at all, so I want to use big words, dammit. I guess. Help!

Why is it so, like... anathema to so many students?

I can sympathize. I mean, one of the best things about being a grown-up is I don't have to take work home with me.

Welcome back Vortex! I've been thinking of you.

(Raq, my mind went there too.)

I wish I didn't have to bring work home with me. Stupid grown up with homework-job.

He has some tough stuff this time including Physics and Trig. His teachers are all incredible. His language teacher said they have nicknamed him 'walking dictionary' because he referred to one of the other teachers as draconian. Thought GG would appreciate that. Now if only we could get him to do his homework. Same old same old. 100 on test, 0 on homework. Maybe this will be the year he learns. I live in hope.

I'll admit this was me in school. My logic was that they give us homework so that we can learn the material. If I can get an A on a test without doing the homework, then I obviously don't need to do the homework to learn the material. It was just boring busy work. I developed this theory in grammar school when I would get 100 on the spelling pre-test and still have to copy the words three times each until the real test on Friday.

I think most students who do well on tests just don't see the point. Endless repetition is boring. I hated math esp. I did the last problems and did bother t=with the ones in the begining unless I had problems with the ones at the end. I never saw the point o f30 math problems every night.

The homework thing is crazymaking. One of his teachers showed me his progress report. On one day 0 for homework, the next day 100 of the quiz. He said Brendon told him he didn't need to do the homework because he understood the material. How about do it for the grade? How about do it so we don't hassle the shit out of you? Wouldn't it be easier to just do the damn work since it is so simple? Grrrrr - this is not at all new to the teachers. They don't have any answers either, but they were supportive and indicated they would work with us any way we thought might work.

is an article that discusses a study that shows a genetic variation linked to weight gain for those who are less active. It's a study of Amish people - and apparently, those who have the variation and get 3-4 HOURS of moderate physical activity during the day - brisk walking, housework, etc. weigh all of FIFTEEN POUNDS less than those Amish with it who get the least physical activity.

The Amish are so. much. fun. for that sort of study. My Mom got her public health degree in Pennsylvania. It was a very popular program because of its Amish access. Really.

I wish I didn't have to bring work home with me. Stupid grown up with homework-job.

Sure, but you've got the big text book with all the answers in it. So. Cool.

How about do it so we don't hassle the shit out of you? Wouldn't it be easier to just do the damn work since it is so simple?

THIS KIND OF LOGIC IS WHY WE HATE THE MAN! It's right up there with "show your work" when I'm getting the shit right IN MY HEAD.

I'm going to write a whole album called Punk Rock For A Students. Fuck this noise! ::dah-dah nah nah nuh:: I did it in my head! ::dah-dah nah nah nuh:: You got the Answer Book, BITCH! Now leave my ass ALONE! ::more angry guitars, angry guitars, angry guitars::

Maybe this will be the year he learns. I live in hope.

If his comprehension of the material is head and shoulders above most of the other students, he may very well see the homework as busy work. If he could negotiate with the teachers for alternate ways of displaying his developing mastery of the material, with something more meaningful to him, could that help the situation?

For instance, my third year of French in high school, at the beginning of the year, I told the teacher that I didn't study, and didn't do homework. Since I said it en francais, he professed disbelief. But since he offered the entire class extra credit at any time by writing him letters, I was a very happy camper, grade-wise. Letter writing was a much more meaningful activity than the exercises laid out in the book, and it did an excellent job of showcasing what I was learning (and also spurring me to learn more so that I could write even better letters). I know that not all classes lend themselves to similar displays of skill, at least not without making things a mess for the teacher, but perhaps in one or two areas he might get that kind of latitude.