I understand it is possible to interest older students. I do think that unless you are on the high GPA, solid college prep track, though, it is difficult to succeed, and particularly to turn your mediocre school career around. I think schools are very inflexible, and once an opinion has been formed as to the aptitude of a particular student, teachers themselves often just support the status quo (not you, of course).
When I was in eighth grade I took a bunch of aptitude tests when I had the flu, and didn't do very well. Imagine my surprise when the counselor told me I wasn't college material! Just based on those tests! Even though I was a serious bookworm and had always done really well in school. My father, who was director of curriculum development in another school district, tried to appeal their decision, but that didn't help either. I was doomed to the general, non-college prep track. At fourteen, I was going to be a failure! That really made me mad, and I got straight A's in ninth grade just to prove them wrong, so they had no choice but to let me back into the college prep group. Anyway, I think some children get labeled and then think, why bother? I believe that happens a lot. |
