On Thu, 2 Oct 2003 17:27:01 -0600, "ColoradoSkiBum"
wrote:

: Yes, indeed they should, values that are good and will be reinforced by
: the school system. Trouble is, our public school system is crippled

sigh Yes, that's the problem we're running into here. We're trying our
very best to teach values at home. SS came to us when he was 10 years old,
so a lot of the "values" were already set, and we've had a long road
changing them. He seems to have responded *at home*--we don't have trouble
with him, he's actually very well behaved *at home*--but at school it's a
totally different story. Refuses to do work. Tells the teachers he doesn't
have to do what they say. And on, and on, and on....I could literally write
3 or 4 pages about this kid. And the people at school, their hands are
tied. They *can't* talk to him the way we do; they can't physically
restrain him; he knows this and he walks all over them. (My favorite is when
he tells them we're going to sue them.)

Okay, again, this is NOT what military school is for. MIlitary school
is for kids who need and want a certain structure. Sound s to me like
the problems have nothing to do with "values" at all.

Your stepson needs a good child psychologist. sorry to yell, but
RIGHT NOW.

I also had a son who refused to do homework in the sixth grade. He
had no friends because he had so little self control and self image
that every time someone teased him about even something another kid
would laugh off and say "I know you are" or such, he would either
scream or lose control, or else he would start crying. He would stand
on the side of the playground and watch, cause no one else would play
with him.

The smartest thing I did was taking him to the Child Psycologist. He
met with her once a week, and also with a group of other kids once a
week who had the same social problems he did. I dont know what they
discussed, it was private. In our case after a year he decided to
stop on his own accord. He is now going on fifteen and in the 9th
grade, It was tough, but he now actually has friends, is doing well
in school and is a fun kid.

he just needed the chance that we gave him. He sitll has self esteem
issues and is liable to burst out "I'm just stupid" or something if we
correct his work, so its not over yet. And because of those issues,
he always wants mom and dad to be the ultimate "norm".

Please try and get this kid some help outside of family and school as
soon as possible.

Barb

Hence, the fact-finding mission.

Someone else mentioned JROTC. Unfortunately he's in 7th grade, so that's
not an option at this point. I don't think he'll make it to 9th grade at
the rate he's going. He'll be expelled or get his ass kicked by all the
other kids (who hate him) long before he gets there.