Too Much School Work Already?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Curt_Bumcrot]Curt Bumcrot
Usually in the fall I get calls from parents who say they need to come in and see me. There's a sense of urgency in their voice. The story goes something like this. Their high school student is up early and starts her school work around 8:30 in morning. She stops for a brief lunch break and picks it up again until 4:30 or 5:00. On some occasions she even works a little longer. Day after day this experience repeats itself. The parent believes that if this continues, she will burn out or at least sour toward the home school experience.
So, what do I tell them? Actually, I usually ask a few questions to get a feel for what is behind this massive amount of work.
Generally, I have found that it's better for students to be too busy than not busy enough. They tend to manage their time better when there is a lot to do, when squandering time isn't an option. One of my clients, a senior preparing to test for his black belt in Taekwondo, told me that he had never gotten so much done in spite of the extended practices required to complete this final test.
A major difference between this student and the one I described earlier is that passion, to a large degree, was the driving motivation behind his packed schedule. Because of the great pleasure he got from the workouts, the mastery he experienced, and the well-deserved recognition, he didn't need to be goaded or coerced into this schedule. In other words, for a student who really loves horses, or let's say skate boarding, the parent rarely, and probably never has to say, "Now go ride your horse," or "I want to see you on your skateboard for another half an hour." "Now get to it!" This doesn't happen.
So, that's one thing I try to determine. If it's passion that's behind a lengthy school day, it's probably OK. If it's not, what else could it be?
There are three common causes that could be in play: perfectionism, an unbalanced need to please, and fear.
Perfectionism is strange to observe. It's the point of view that says, "If a job's worth doing, is worth doing right, and I'm the only one who knows what 'right' is." Sort of the opposite of the Nike slogan, "Just do it." What's strange about "perfectionism" is that it isn't always present in every context.
Thanks for Reading!
Curt Bumcrot, MRE
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Curt Bumcrot is the founder and director of Basic Skills Assessment and Educational Services. He has earned degrees in Biblical Studies from Grace Institute in Long Beach, California, a B.A. in English from California State University at Dominguiz Hills, and a M.R.E. (Master in Religious Education) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He has been active both as a teacher and administrator in Christian Schools.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Too-Much-School-Work-Already?&id=6571749] Too Much School Work Already?