Rantalicious!!!

[FrizzleFreak]

I am sick and tired. Sick and tired of being told what I can and can’t do. No, you’re only in eighth grade, they say, you can’t do that, they say. Well, obviously I can. Is that a bad thing? Am I to be punished for being smart? If you don’t like me, then put me in a higher class and I’m not your problem anymore! How hard is it to slip someone into a higher class!!!! It costs no more money. I will be just as a normal person in that class. Sure, I can skip two grades in math. Go ahead, skip a grade in science! But if I don’t want to take the same course twice, I am told, “No, you can’t do that. It’s impossible. It’s never been done.” Am I really the only person who feels bored with almost all of their classes? Why can’t I get taught at my own level? Other people are. It doesn’t matter if they read at a second grade level or what. They get taught, they get catered to. But I’m just stuck somewhere and they wonder why I’m not attentive in class, but I can answer their questions. BECAUSE I KNOW THE MATERIAL! Is that such a hard concept? And don’t complain to me about today’s kids feeling like they’re entitled to everything. I am entitled to the best education that whatever school I go to can give me. I am entitled to go into a class that is right for me. And I most certainly have the right to demand it! No Child Left Behind. Well, they’re not being left behind anymore, which is good. I’m not saying that they shouldn’t be taught at their grade level, I’m saying that everybody needs to be taught at their grade level. I’m not asking for a whole new class just for me, I’m asking to be slipped into a higher class. How come they were willing to do it for my other classes, all but my strongest subject, Language Arts? I test at an AP level in this subject! Can’t I get into a sophomore class? They try to brush it off with statements about how my social life will be affected. By changing one class? I can deal with older kids, I even deal better with them sometimes. I’m used to the teasing, which by the way can be mostly avoided if they just slip me in. Nobody in the sophomore class knows me. They’ll just think that I’m a new kid. Overall, can anybody come up with a legitimate reason why I can’t enter this class?
Sorry, I needed to rant.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Sounds like you need to homeschool yourself.

Seriously, if it is possible with your parents' work situation, you could enroll in a school and take online classes where you aren't restricted to being in classes that are boring you to tears. Something to think about.

 

[below_gravity]

Oh that sucks!!!
Have you talked to your parents/guidance councilor/teachers/ect? Who is telling you no? If you have tested for AP classes, are you in them? Does you school offer them or higher "tracked" classes?

Im sorry you are being held back! I have you considered applying for governer's school? That is a fantastic program in the summer and will really show your academic motivation!

I know how you feel about subject material and students not being on the same level as you...
I just started Graduate School at a school that offers night classes and and I feel the same way...teachers and students need to get with the program some times. The No Child Left Behind Act caters to the "behind" students and not the the "ahead" students"

Edit: If you cant get into the classes with challenging course work, can you change schools? or homeschool as Robin said?

 

[FrizzleFreak]

No, cause I'm not even in highschool yet, and the admin and teachers say that I can't take any higher classes. My parents are pushing like crazy to get me in higher classes, and I am eternally grateful for it. This year, I got to take an "Honors" language arts class that was really boring- and it turned out that it was nearly the same as the ninth grade course. So this is when I go really mad, because they were going to make me take the same excruciatingly boring class TWICE!
I am always pushing for homeschool, and it could work, if I went to my friend's house, who's father doesn't have a teaching degree but he's brilliant. He also works from home, so I could go over there and do my schooling. My parents don't want to pull me out of school yet, because they think it will ruin my social life. Not so. I am in so many afterschool- and mostly non-school supported - activities that my scoial schedule would not be affected. It's even possible that I could do more around the house if I were homeschooled. (assuming that I do it at home, not my friend's house)
I have never heard of governor's school? I'm really busy with 4-H during the summer though...and I like it that way. I would like to keep that so that I can have the memories to look back on when I have to work during the sumer.
Sorry, that was really long. You guys are so nice, with your advice! And listening to me complain...

 

[below_gravity]

Hmmm...im trying to fnd info on the governors school online but it appears it is a state run program and Oregon may not have it (which is nonsense in in its self!) And they have cancelled it many places do the the economy apparently

.

I wish you the best of luck and it sounds like you are not setting for 'no' as an answer which is GREAT! The educational system can really be a bunch of bureaucratic crap at times!!!

 

[sparkles2307]

My bro played hockey with a kid that had your problem, too smart for the teachers and bored in class. They ended up homeschooling him because the school wouldnt cooperate and he did super.

 

[Ol'FashionHen]

Sounds like you would really like the homeschooling, form a plan.. submit it to the folks.. be very serious about the homeschooling and it's benefits , if it didn't work out ..no harm done, enroll in school again.

. Good for you Miss Smartie ... my nephew is super smart too, he received a full scholarship to the best local private school for advanced kiddos here. The teachers at his former public school submitted him to be placed in this school because they were unable to teach him there. Are there any schools in your area that you could apply for a scholarship through.

 

[WriterofWords]

You can't be skipped from Middle to High School, once you are in High School you can be placed in AP classes that should be more challenging. It's hard, I know, and telling you to be patient won't help so I won't. You have the opportunity to challenge yourself in many ways: Go to the library and look for lessons you can do on your own. There are many homeschooling website you can find things to do on, there are places you can find about anything you want to learn about. Check out books on subjects that interest you and read them. If you can't change your situation at school right now, especially at the very end of the year, don't whine about it, do something on your own that will take up your Summer and teach you something.
Ask a someone you know who is a Freshman what they studied this year, then go find information on it and you will be ahead of the game when you get there and have a better chance of being able to move up.
You should have already had your meeting with the HS counselors and such because of being placed in your classes for next year. Did you or your parents or you MS counselor bring up the subject of advanced classes? If not have your parents request a counselor's meeting now so you can get started on it for next year. Have your counselor now contact the HS counselor for you. There are a lot of pro-active steps you could be taking that will get you what you want.

ETA: Take advantage of dual credit courses to acquired college credits while in HS, contact your local Community College for Summer courses.

 

[FrizzleFreak]

Thank you everybody. I think that it has been worked out, at least for this year. I should be able to get into a higher language arts! My parents are still against home schooling, because they want to make sure that I spend a lot of time with other people and out of the house-which I do, but yes, staying at home all day could get boring. We are thinking about online courses too, WriterofWords-we just did scheduling now, that's why this thing came up, like it does almost every year. Our district is TINY. I am going to a 200 kid middle school, and a 400 kid high school, give or take. We don't have counselors for this sort of thing. We just communicate by email or in quick sentences with the principals. There's like 1 or 2 AP classes, availiable senior year, in Science and Math.
It just seems weird that they would do so much for me in science and math, but practically nothing in any other class.
Again, thanks for listening to me whine. I feel like such a complainer, but I also feel that I should have a better education!

 

[key west chick]

I understand where your coming from. My son just finished 8th grade yesterday. He wont be 14 until July. But in 8th grade he was able to take 3 core classes for high school credit. Math, science and language arts. He also had a computer class that was a high school credit. He had a B average in LA and science and a A in math for the year. Even though he's going into the 9th grade, credit wise, he's barely a 14 year old sophomore. If he keeps it up, he'll graduate early.