In article , Mike Coslo writes:

My take is that the child has to be raised with an expectation that he
or she will indeed do well in school. Many are not raised this way.
Appreciation for the sciences, appreciation for learning and hard work,
all that good stuff.

Which starts at home.

Diminishing emphasis on "self-esteem" would be a great idea.
Self-esteem should be something earned. One of the strangest things I
have seen lately is the bizzare students who have a great sense of
self-esteem with absolutely no reason for it. No accomplishments, no
education, nothing but feeling really, really good about themselves.

The problem is that the terms "self-esteem" has obtained political correctness
while "self-confidence" is sadly neglected. Yet what kids need is the latter.
And there's only one way to get real self-confidence: by doing things.

We also have to remember that Students are individuals and mature at
different rates. I know many students who seemd to undergo a miraculous
change at some point in high school, going from slacker to achiever
almost overnight. My own kid underwent such a change right after he got
a steady girlfriend, his grades improved, and his whole H.S. experience
changed right around, because he started to get a future looking
perspective.

Agreed, and there's even mo Different people mature at different rates in
diferent areas.

Oh, yeah. Get the kids thinking about something other than what's
happening 5 minutes from now.

Not just the kids.....

73 de Jim, N2EY