Should a child behind in his academics be dismissed as a "failure"?

Question

my cousin is nine years old, but still in prep school. One day, our househelp and i were talking about him and his sister when she(our househelp) said something that seemed to me like she was dismissing him as a hopeless case (details of the story may be read in my post: http://tiringtingting.blogs.friendster.com/ting/2007/02/hi_world_kumust.html) how he was behind in his studies and how destructive his behavior is. my cousin is dyslexic and autistic (the mild-little professor type), so i believe that he should not be compared to other kids his age, because he is unlike other kids, or what may be considered as "normal". we had an argument. am i being overly-sensitive re the topic, or do i have a reasonable point?

Answer 1

You have the same opinion as me. Both my cousin and father are dyslexic and i also believe you should not make this be a problem. I am thought to be dyslexic which is probably likely as most of my family do but i don't want to have a test I just try extra hard and now I am at the grammar school just about to take 12 GCSE's! (i've already got one A*)

Good Luck, perseverance is key.

Answer 2

he is definitely not a failure.

just because he is not on the same level as those children doesn't make him useless.

actually, autistic children are very special and are usually talented in a certain skill such as art or music...they will usually discover what they like to do.

besides.

many of the famous people who changed our world had learning difficulties as well.

Thomas Edison was taught by his mother after schools were unsuccessful.

Albert Einstein didn't talk until he was 4 or read until he was 9.

Auguste Rodin's father said "I have and idiot for a son." He did poorly in spelling and arithmetic, but his most enduring work is the sculpture of the Thinker.

Leonardo da Vinci was said to have dyslexia.

i also noticed that autistic children need alot of support from their parents. their parents need to give them alot of attention and help..but most importantly love. they communicate the most easily with people they know love and trust them.

Answer 3

No. Hes not a failure! Me and my brother both have/had dyslexia. Its sad how people say they are failures just because they are Autistic or have dyslexia or ADHD and they don't pay attention. People around them don't know how it feels and they don't know the challenges the have to over come and the obstacles. Alot of people that don't pay attention are probably struggling with one thing or other.

Answer 4

He is NOT a failure.

He needs someone willing to work with him.  Has homeschool been considered?

Answer 5

he's not normal, but he's not a failure. send him to a school for people similar to him

Answer 6

There is no normal person. He is not a failure, he is far from it. If he isn't doing well in his classes, then help him at home. He is not a failure. I have a friend who is mildly autistic, and he isn't at all a failure, he has to work hard, but he is now taking AP classes. Yes, you do have a reasonable point. If you call someone a failure, then thats what they will be.

He can't be compared to other children because he is not like other children.