Some kids aren’t made for school.

That’s ok.

If we’re really honest, public school, especially, is not made for all kids.

Our goals should include literacy, basic math skills, and most importantly raising good humans.

For middle and high school parents, I suggest this mantra

It only a test/paper/assignment.

He’s going to do the best he can.

The kid is going to be a good human as long as we, the adults who ground him and love him, don’t make him feel like his academic struggles make him less than.

Kids need to be literate- meaning that they can read anything they want, and they can make sense of text. They need to be able to write in a way that conveys what they intend to say.

They don’t need to read quickly or even, dare I say it, love to read.

They need to understand basic consumer and life skills math in order to survive in the world. They don’t necessarily need algebra or calculus to be successful.

Some kids who have struggled throughout their K-12 experience actually thrive in the right colleges. I have multiple examples of this. My friend, Ashly Cargle-Thompson runs a college consulting firm here in Atlanta, and she recommends that families, especially families of kids with neurodiversity and/or athletes, begin the consultation process by 9th grade.

My best friend’s son was fine in school, but he knew college wasn’t for him right now. He felt called to join the marines. He’s studying to be an in-flight helicopter mechanic. Holy smokes.

One of our dear friends never went to college and found his calling in the food and beverage industry. He’s now a James Beard Award winning chef who owns his own Michelin Recommended restaurant.

I would argue that you don’t need a college degree to do the work I do. I went to a top ten school for my graduate degree in special education, and I got all my training in literacy while working in the world under the guidance and support of incredible mentors.

Vocations present in all kinds of ways. School is simply a construct in which some kids merely need to survive, literate and whole.

It’s our job as teachers, therapists, parents, friends, and community to support and love WHO they are, not HOW they “do school.”