I received this email:
I am wondering if you can think of some options I may have with my son. He just won’t do the work. I was hoping the live class would be motivating for him but he refuses to participate and I have found him looking at the answers to do the work etc. I am considering just dropping the class but if he later decides to do the work I would like the resources available for him. it is s wonderful site. I don’t want to keep paying the graded option when he refuses to do any work etc…..what other options do you have? Thanks for this service. I am sure many are thrilled with it!
Here is my reply:
I may not have much advice to offer you. It is very difficult to motivate someone unmotivated. My suggestion? Manual labor. If he is old enough, a construction job, perhaps. Manual labor always has a magical effect on me. Oddly enough, I still have my construction job. I just don’t show up as often.
There is also this… he doesn’t have to learn Latin. I have met many happy people who haven’t. You have too. We all have. Latin is just not as important as most people claim it is.
I am happy to work with you on this. I don’t want to encourage quitting, but I know from experience (ten years in an inner-city school) that you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Forcing your son through this may only be a recipe for home strife.
Happy to keep this conversation alive. I hope this was at least some help.
Dwane
