We had that conversation multiple times. DS took one class over the school’s limit this year (as a senior, in the midst of applications) despite being warned by everyone not to do so. Not only was it an advanced fellowship (very work intensive) but all of his other classes were advanced also. He fought for the special allowance from the school and they finally acquiesced.
It was the first time we ever saw him overwhelmed. And I had to toe the line of being supportive and understanding and also reminding him he made his bed…On top of this (bringing in the tutor topic), his BC Calc teacher is the worst he’s had ever in his educational career. If he asks a question, she cannot answer it. She only uses an algorithm and not a concept or application basis. She just goes through steps. He cannot learn this way- he needs to know why. We asked for a tutor in the fall. The school failed to find one despite multiple requests…I finally was able to hire a co-worker’s son who is a Harvard junior majoring in applied physics and mathematics. Thank goodness.
Sometimes an outside tutor IS necessary. Although you would expect the best schools to have the best teachers, this is not the case 100% of the time. Thank goodness for Skype/Zoom technology, also, because this was the only way to make this possible for him.
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