There are some people who seem not to care….about their grades, job, whatever. I’m not one of them and am not able to understand it personally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there has been a major shift since I was in high school (or maybe I'm just in a different social context now) in that lack of motivation resulting in Cs now seems like it would be considered evidence of some kind of undiscovered LD or psychological issue.

OP here, I feel that way as well! But I wonder if it’s taken to extremes now. Ideally we should test everyone but then the question of meds arises so it’s harder to tell what’s warranted

Again, is this about an actual kid or are you theorizing about it as an issue?

Anonymous wrote:I think there has been a major shift since I was in high school (or maybe I'm just in a different social context now) in that lack of motivation resulting in Cs now seems like it would be considered evidence of some kind of undiscovered LD or psychological issue.

I think a large part of that is because of grade inflation, it’s really hard to get a C instead of an A or a B, especially in public schools.

Anonymous wrote:I think there has been a major shift since I was in high school (or maybe I'm just in a different social context now) in that lack of motivation resulting in Cs now seems like it would be considered evidence of some kind of undiscovered LD or psychological issue.

OP here, I feel that way as well! But I wonder if it’s taken to extremes now. Ideally we should test everyone but then the question of meds arises so it’s harder to tell what’s warranted

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I guess my question is whether kids who don’t really care much about grades exist. Providing they are from a typical education valuing family and have reasonable expectations and opportunities to do well.

I think they exist. And some appear not to care due to underlying problems. Both types of kids exist.

Right, that’s what I meant, having Cs doesn’t always mean an underlying problem.

I think there has been a major shift since I was in high school (or maybe I'm just in a different social context now) in that lack of motivation resulting in Cs now seems like it would be considered evidence of some kind of undiscovered LD or psychological issue.

My kid got straight As in public school. When he moved to private, he got mostly Bs and Cs. The expectations were much higher. Everything is relative.

Anonymous wrote:Have you talked to him? To the teachers? Cs imply he’s either not turning in work or really not understanding the content. Honestly both of those are issues, but one is more likely to be behavioral than the other.

I’d 1) talk to the kid, and 2) talk to the teacher. Once you get those perspectives, I’d look at testing at a place like Mindwell.

It could be an LD that he can’t cover any more. Some bright kids can cover things like dyslexia in the younger grades but get overwhelmed in middle school or higher.

You need more information now though.

+1 both my kids have ADHD, diagnosed in HS.

DS looked like a kid who didn't care, straight Bs in middle school. Started failing some classes in 9th grade. With meds and tutoring ended HS as a straight A student with a lot of AP classes. Needed no support in college and is graduating in STEM major with a 3.9.

DD looked fine in MS, all As but we couldn't see the effort that was taking her. Grades dropped in 10th grade when her weak executive function skills were finally completed overwhelmed. Medication was not as helpful for her, and unlike DS motivation was never an issue. Grades remained up and down throughout HS but always managed to at least get a B. She uses an executive function coach at college and still has ups and downs but gets mostly As.

No kid wants to feel like he's failing. If he seems to not care it's likely covering some other issue and warrants investigation.

Anonymous wrote:If a middle class student from a functional family with no apparent LDs and reasonably intelligent (say, IQ above 120) is getting Cs in HS in several subjects (including Gen Ed classes), would you think they are just not motivated or would you look for hidden LDs?

I’ve had a conversation with someone who said any reasonably intelligent kid will get As and Bs in HS, at least in regular classes, and there’s something going on if they don’t (like ADHD or dyslexia). My take, however, is that some kids just aren’t motivated enough to care.

What does everyone think?

A kid with an IQ over 120 who’s getting C’s in regular classes has some sort of problem going on.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I guess my question is whether kids who don’t really care much about grades exist. Providing they are from a typical education valuing family and have reasonable expectations and opportunities to do well.

Is this your kid? Is this a theoretical conversation?

Have you talked to him? To the teachers? Cs imply he’s either not turning in work or really not understanding the content. Honestly both of those are issues, but one is more likely to be behavioral than the other.

I’d 1) talk to the kid, and 2) talk to the teacher. Once you get those perspectives, I’d look at testing at a place like Mindwell.

It could be an LD that he can’t cover any more. Some bright kids can cover things like dyslexia in the younger grades but get overwhelmed in middle school or higher.

You need more information now though.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I guess my question is whether kids who don’t really care much about grades exist. Providing they are from a typical education valuing family and have reasonable expectations and opportunities to do well.

I think they exist. And some appear not to care due to underlying problems. Both types of kids exist.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I guess my question is whether kids who don’t really care much about grades exist. Providing they are from a typical education valuing family and have reasonable expectations and opportunities to do well.

Kids care! This is not a problem, OP.

Remember: C’s earn degrees.

OP here, I guess my question is whether kids who don’t really care much about grades exist. Providing they are from a typical education valuing family and have reasonable expectations and opportunities to do well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids dislike school and aren’t interested in the subject matter, thus get Cs. There’s no hidden issue.

This. Some stuff is just boring

But don’t kids want to just do the work n forget about it so that parents are off their backs?!