Claire-Adele is a great student. She is curious in the sense that she likes different subjects. This year, she is taking Psychology, Stats, U.S. Government, and Comparative Goverment. She is organized and motivated, almost to a fault, more concerned about her grades than she should be. She comes home from school and announces how well she has done on a bunch of tests. One hundred percent on this, one hundred percent on that. As a parent, I claim no credit or responsibility for having a child like this.
The Boy has the exact opposite personality and I wonder how he will survive high school. Not that he isn't motivated or curious, but just in a way that doesn't always match the expectations of conventional learning. Give him a robot or a rocket to build and he is off to the races. He will play and explore and test and try, for hours, for weeks, for months. For three years in middle school, he was in Rocket Club where he and his teammates spent month exploring what will happen if we change the fins of the rocket? Try a smaller motor? A large motor? Add more ballast? The Boy was always the last to leave the launch. His unflappable math teacher turned rocket coach would put up with the Boy's unpredictable moods and uneven temperament because Mr. G knew Boy cared more about rockets than any other kid out there.
I wish school were more like this for the Boy. I wish it were a giant lab that celebrates discovery where he could spend all day answering "What would happen if?"
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