I need some help...?

Question

I am 17 and I was homeschooled aka unschooled for most of my life. last year for 11th grade my parents let me go to the community college for a dual enrollment program. this was great in many ways because my classes were free, and all I had to do was pay for books. I was able to take some very useful and fun classes, but there was a catch. my dad is a teacher at the community college. a math teacher. I hate math with a holy passion, and my dad knows it. he will only let me continue going to the college if I spend one hour a day sitting in one of his math classes. I feel like I am locked in a cage for that hour. every one on the class thinks that I should know all the answers because my dad is the teacher. my dad thinks that I should know all the answers simply because he is a college math teacher, like I should have gotten it through genetics or something. I am failing the class right now, my dad is mad and I don't know what to do?

if I drop that class then my dad will make me drop the other two classes that I take at the college (history and biology, both of which I get strait A's in) I wish I could make my dad see that I am not him and that I never will be. but this is what he expects from me. I hate it, I dread going to that prison every morning. and I know that I will NEVER look at that junk again after that class. it is all USELESS information to me. why can't my dad see that?

Answer 1

I can't figure out if you're in the class as an observer because your dad asked you to "sit in" on the class, or are you officially enrolled in his class?
If you're taking his class for credit, you need to do something to ensure a passing grade and it will require your dad to remove his emotions from the situation.
Even though your dad is the teacher, you should definitely make an appointment to speak with one of the college counselors or advisors. They might be able to steer you in a direction that won't interfere with your dad's wishes.
It's an awkward position to be in, and the most important thing is to not let this affect your family life.
Math class and school will come and go, but your relationship with your dad will always be there.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

This is never an easy one. What you might try is asking your father why he likes mathematics so much. What is it about maths that turns him on? Whatever his reasons, and I am sure they are sound, ask him if he believes it is at all possible for other people to feel the same way about other subjects.

He can't answer no without confessing to being a bigot, if he says yes, then you have the opportunity to point out that his child has already proved by results that his beloved offspring is one of these other people.

One other alternative approach you might try, is to write him a letter. Face-to-face discussion with parents can very easily become emotionally overheated, in other words, Dad gets mad.

One way of avoiding that, is to write him a letter. If you take the opportunity to tell him how much you love and admire him, or at least care for him a little bit, then point out that you don't understand why he is making your life a misery, forcing you into a situation where you feel you can't talk with him any more. Pour your heart out. Let him know exactly how you feel.

You are an excellent writer. Use your strengths. If you describe how you feel more or less exactly as you have in your question, it would take a very strange father indeed to ignore what you say.

As a very last resort, show him what he has forced you into. Show him your question and this answer. When he has recovered from his apoplectic fit, you could mention that all you are asking is to be treated as a young human being, and not as something he owns.

I wish you and your father a happy reconciliation based upon mutual respect for one another's achievements.

Answer 3

Step to your Daddy (honestly and respectfully), remind him that you can't be a mathematician by osmosis(biology girl), but you are willing to comprimise ,you will make the effort to master the subject(or, at least, be a willing participant, you can't be anything marketable without Math, sorry), and, in turn, if he would , please, possibly consider increasing your comfort level by allowing you to make a choice in math instructors? So, you are in a community college, but technically, still in high school, right? It can't be all that "cagey', since you've been at home, right? I think you would perform better with a little more freedom in this new school envrionment,though, just keep your end of the bargain, make the grade, you can do it, you're almost 18(Do the math!**smiles**), and, then, maybe,... make a career choice that includes science and math, when you tie the two together, it becomes fun and profitable! Notice the words career, marketable, profitable, job stability( I threw that one in)...You're crossing over to the big time,now, baby! Make some serious life choices, and remember: "what don't kill you will make you stronger" Buckle Up!!

Answer 4

I hear you hate math, and hate the math class. If you wish to ever get a degree in anything, it will require some math, so you need to face it at some point.

Maybe you would do better taking a math class at a different community college where they don't know you or your Dad.

If you are failing, and can still drop the course without penalty,
try to convince your Dad that you need to drop it to preserve your GPA. Sign up for a math class next semester, possibly at a different level.

Answer 5

That's really bad... sometimes parents can be so overprotective... it drives me crazy... If there's no way you can disscuss this matter with him, like, letting him know you don't like math and all that. All you can do is continue taking the math classes, even if you hate it, because, at least you'll be able to attend the ones you really enjoy... It's a sacrifice you might have to make, it's not fair, but it's what you have...

Answer 6

I bet that your dad already knows that you hate math. He is probably trying the only way he knows how to get you to understand the math thing just a little better.
I would bite the bullet.keep going to dad's classes..it is not going to kill you to attend. It may even help you if you would open your mind and forget all of that "hate this subject" kind of thing JUst think next year you will be 18 and have more say on what subjects you want to take.

Answer 7

Go to a tutor and try to figure it out. Yeah in general you won't use the vast majority of mathematical equations again ever in your life. However, you're stuck with it. Which would you prefer an hour in his class or 24 hours at home.

Plus if you're making straight As in college courses you aren't exactly "unschooled"

Anyways, you go to any liberal arts school and you will have to take at least one math class.

Answer 8

Go talk to your dad and tell him you are thinking about dropping out. If he ask why, tell him you hate his class ( be honest with him ), because you are not good in math like he is, but love your other classes. Tell him you want stay, but you feel like your in a prisoner in the math class and if staying means having to take his math class; then you had rather leave than to be in tormented.

Answer 9

Sorry but he will probably never see that. maybe you can ask him for help at home to explain things better or after school like normal teachers. try harder even though i know you hate it but i hate math and once i really really tried hard at it then my mom started being nicer and let me go out later and more time with friends. and also you dont have to worry about getting up your grade to at least past with the lowest possibly grade to pass. just try hard and tell your dad this is not your strong point and maybe if he backs off and lets you try it on your own to work harder that maybe youll do better.

Answer 10

i think a lot of people have a class they hate w/passion. i'm very bad in math but my whole family is great at math. i think you hate it b/c your mind is already blocked and refuses to understand. your dad should get you a tutor or find a tutor to help you. why have you been homeschooled?