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<p>I couldn’t disagree more! Labbydog’s son “loves” his current school and is an excellent student there . . . why in the world would anyone encourage forcing him to change schools unless there is a very compelling reason to do so? And labbydog and spouse’s view that high school “should begin in 9th, not 10th” is not, in my view, such a compelling reason.</p>
<p>Ninth grade boys are among the most socially inept creatures on the planet. If labbydog’s son has found an environment where he’s happy and thriving, I can’t see much to be gained by trying to force him into a different situation. He’s already agreed to be a 5-day boarding student . . . apparently a concession to what he perceives as his parents’ expectation that it’s time for him to grow up and go to BS.</p>
<p>There’s no rule that says that kids from any particular school must repeat a grade if and when they go away to boarding school. And for a child who’s an excellent student and chronologically mature for his grade, there may be absolutely no reason to do so. And labbydog’s son’s chances of getting in to a good bs are going to increase in direct proportion to his interest in attending such a school. So his mediocre results this year are not a reliable predictor of how he’ll do the next time he applies.</p>
<p>The general consensus on this board, from what I’ve seen in my brief time here, is that the campaign to secure a spot in a good school will always be most successful when it is led by the student, and not by the parents.</p>
<p>Labbydog, I know that you want your son to grow and have the very best opportunities available . . . but give him some credit for perhaps knowing what is best for him at this particular moment in time. Even if this means (worst case scenario) forfeiting an opportunity to attend a truly exceptional school, it won’t be the end of the world for him!</p>