Curtis

Two years ago I wrote about Curtis. He was a boy who for a short period period of time would appear to be charming but made it almost impossible to teach the rest of the class. I never heard of anyone who wanted him in their class (students or teachers). He was written up a lot just to get him out of the classroom.

He didn't pass enough classes that year to progress to his sophomore year so he was still a freshman this past year. One of the courses he didn't pass was math and he failed freshman math again last year.

I am not sure he will be a sophomore in the fall, because he continues to behave in the same way in class.

Most kids who act up in class are either looking for the approval of the teacher or (more likely) their fellow students. Curtis is just looking for attention - good, bad, doesn't matter. Just attention.

He hung out in that group outside my class this past year and I overheard him ask another kid, do you think 17 is too young to be a father? (Note, I have never ever seen him with a girl beyond annoying one) I listened harder. Apparently he feels that you are a better parent when you are a young parent, so he wants to have his children before he is 20.

The friend was laughing and telling him he will need a job.

He will need to graduate and the only way he will be able to do that is to knuckle down and do the work. At this point, if he applies himself (since he is capable), he could graduate in 3 years. He has the ability to LEARN the material so he could pass the graduation tests.

But I cannot see him planning anything academic that well or long.