Senior Year & 8th Grade Blues

I'm not going to swear to it... I'm not even going to ask him if my observation is correct... I don't want to blow a good thing... BUT... I think Christopher may actually be enjoying his Senior Year so far. He has a relaxed schedule that is comprised of mostly classes he WANTS to take rather than classes he HAS to take. The only mandated classes are: Economics (fall semester), US Government (spring semester); and English 12 (fall semester English Composition and spring semester English Literature). What else is he taking?

Fall semester electives are: Applied Instrumental Music; Advanced Environmental Science; Stellar Astronomy; and Solar Astronomy.

Spring semester electives will be: Psychology; Painting; Advanced Environmental Science; & Ceramics.

The spring semester should be excellent for him. His English Literature class (an Honors class, by the way), has a test day 1 over Orwell's "1984". He has already read the book twice recreationally. First big assignment is already done! For a year he has been looking forward to Environmental Science and Psychology. Painting and Ceramics are relaxed and blow off classes. I think he is preparing himself for US Government. He has borrowed the van twice this week. Previously when he would borrow the van, the radio would be on an Alternative or Rock station. The two times that he's borrowed the van this week he's listened to N.P.R.

I heard your hearts stop beating and your gasps for breath. Do I care that he's listening to N.P.R.? No, not really. I want him to be well-rounded. I want him to reach his own decisions. I will put a Post-It Note on the channel selector the next time he asks to take the van... FOX NEWS IS CHANNEL 131. Listen to both sides so you can argue your point intellectually. Juan Williams does both, right?! I have heard him admit when Democrats go over the edge and I have heard him ridicule Republicans. It appears as though Christopher is educating himself and (maybe unconsciously) preparing himself for US Government class next semester. All I really care about right now is the "A" I hope he gets in the class.

Poor Cameron has the 8th grade blues. I don't remember him having more than 10 minutes of homework more than a handful of times since 3rd grade. He always got the majority of his work done in school. He has no Study Hall this year. He is taking Spanish I (a high school class) in lieu of Study Hall. He is also taking Algebra I (also a high school class). These two classes give him homework. However, he also realizes that these two classes give him high school credit!