Many high school kids go through a phase of revolt where they don’t perform up to their potential and think it amusing to appear as if though they don’t understand and don’t care whether they do or not.
They may fake ignorance of subjects they know very well. This is called the “Cute Idiot” syndrome, and unfortunately it is common; thank goodness in most cases it is also usually only temporary.
This nonsense usually originates from a student who is doing poorly academically and may not have any guidance from home to do any better. The sad thing is that students who are doing well in school often look up to the student and think of them as cool. They emulate the same wiseacre ways to seek the acceptance of the bad kid or to hopefully become more popular themselves.
Some of the signs to watch for if your child suddenly goes “brain dead” and wants to follow in the shoes of the person who is going nowhere are:
1. Always Late for School Activities – You should teach your child to be on time for any event they are expected to attend, and that definitely includes school. This should start in the kindergarten/elementary years and become routine. Being late can progress to cutting classes, too.
2. Losing or Forgetting Homework – This is one of those traits that aggravates teachers to no end. It soon becomes evident to educators that the student who does this doesn’t care about class studies, and the teacher will lose interest in wasting time with such a goldbricker.
3. Creating a Scene in Class – The number one trait of a bad student is interrupting the teaching process by attempting to make a circus out of class. Trips to the principal’s office probably won’t do much good, except to provide some peace for the instructor. The parent usually gets some lame excuse of how their child was mistreated.
4. Postponing Assignments until the Last Minute – This is a problem with many students if their parents don’t stay after them. It is a poor habit that may have nothing to do with the “Cute Idiot” syndrome. Still, you can be assured that the person influencing the mutiny is doing the same thing.
These are only four of the ways that a student can jeopardize college opportunities and decent grades because of listening to the wrong drummer. Unfortunately, things can get much worse and lead to many more problems both in school and at home. It is important for parents to get a handle on this behavior early, before extreme damage is done.
Imagine trying to get reference letters for college and scholarship applications from teachers and school officials who have labeled your child’s behavior as unacceptable for college. Once the damage is done, it is hard, if even possible, to undo.
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