Peter:

Tell him to start reading up on physics now (there are plenty of good non-technical books around) before they scare him away. Unless he wants to go further with it (medicine or animals or curing cancer), forget biology.

And since when is geography a 'science'? In my day, it was just fun to look at maps and charts instead of text. And I'll bet there is some kind of 'funky' tilt to French-only geography, anyway.

Peter, I was reading your post while discussing the cluelessness of libs with my husband. He was reading the paper and getting apoplectic at the spin and hyperbole. The man's an obvious masochist and can't stop his life long habit of reading the morning newspaper. Our conclusion: There can be no communication unless there's an agreement on terminology, like for instance how can physics, math, geography and photography all be sciences?

Your son's dilemma is quite sad. He's obviously a bright kid just at the age when he'll soon start being bombarded by hormones (if it hasn't already started) while simultaneously being bombarded by contradictory information and in another language. He'll get through it fine with a little help from dad, but, not wanting to get into a another dreary discussion on the disgrace of the public schools, why should it be so?

Memorizing the seemingly infinite number of terms in biology, anatomy, chemistry, etc. is an awful chore, but doing so in French sounds like one of Dante's circles of hell.

My own experience, Peter, is that he'll be better off for it in the long run. I can vouch that learning the same terms, theory and knowledge in different languages strenghtens the concepts -- as well as the notion that scientific truth (and moral truths) are true in any language, anywhere - the Truth is still True even if you move it to China, etc. This is a fine lesson for a lad to learn. He'll be culturally very well-rounded, adroit and able to shine in mixed-culture group conversation, which the modern business world is loaded with. French, though not a language in ascendancy, is very beautiful and will open all manner of doors in literature and film and is indispensible for cultural literacy. I urge you to add Mandarin Chinese studies; after that, he's seriously ready to roll in the 21st century.

Don't make him do the homework and he'll be fine.

Homework doesn't "work", anyway.

Erp:

Thanks, it's actually a private school and a very good one. He is working extremely hard and rising to the challenge like a trooper. his results show already and we couldn't be prouder of him. I just wish the science was marked by a little of that "wonder of discovery" stuff we liberal arts types always hear about rather than just the drudge of mastering a tedious glossary.

Qiao Yang:

Thank-you. I shall certainly show him your comment and encourage him to learn Chinese, but first I have to figure out how to erase Pepy's distracting post about homework. :-)

Don't erase Pepys comment. Your son needs to hear all the different views. Of course, I happen to agree with Pep that most homework is makework.

Bon chance to the young scholar.

Your son needs to hear all the different views.

Indeed he does, when he is thirty.

By all means, study what you find "funky." Then be honest enough to live with the consequences; forbear to wave your tin cup in the faces of those who have chosen otherwise.

Lou you may not even know how right you are. Can't count the times I've seen it among my kid's friends.

And Peter, give your son some credit.

Sheesh, science in English is tough to begin with.

I'd be immensely proud if this were my kid.

erp:

I do, but when did you ever meet a twelve year-old who reasoned himself into homework? Anyway, he saw the thread and immediately agreed with Pepys, but his eyes bulged at Qiao Yang.

Thanks, Matt.