Yes, counselors aren’t just for crazy people and tutors aren’t just for dummies! What if you try to explain that different people need help with different things and that it is nice to work as a community and help each other. Maybe if you has the chance to tutor someone else he will see the benefits more clearly. Maybe he can tutor me on video games or ninjas or whatever. I am serious! I am always happy to learn something new and I think it could be empowering for him to be the teacher instead of always the student.

Also, my views on ADHD and learning disabilities and school. I am glad I wasn’t treated for them as a child. I think children with mild cases that are treated end up using it as a crutch all their lives. It made me find ways to adapt and never gave me an excuse. I truly believe that I am much smarter and well adapted than if I had been treated as though I’d had a handicap. I heard a really interesting story on NPR about a woman who did similar for her son who had a more severe learning disability and how he grew up to be very high functioning.

Check out the “Flipped Classroom” method that is becoming popular (there is a Khan Institute video on the TED talks that I posted to FB). It is a style that has worked for me and I’d recommend for other people. If you can just try to get him to watch 5 minute videos before he goes to learn it in the class it might help. Also, informal/free-choice learning is a good way to teach children to become more interested and active in their education. I have a lot more ideas and opinions about this stuff if you want to chat next time I see you. I’ll probably have a crap-ton more if I get into the education graduate school I’ve applied for!

Good luck fighting the good fight!