This couple has a young son named Edward who is struggling in math in school. They try tutors, extra hours of teaching at his school and at home. Nothing seems to be getting through. They switch schools and each time, the schools tell the parents that them that Edward is bright, but he doesn’t pay attention in school and doesn’t often do his homework.
At wits end, they hear about a Catholic school that has had incredible breakthroughs when dealing with underperforming students. Not being religious or Catholic, they decide it is all or nothing to help Edward.
The first day of school comes and they drop Edward off. A whole day of nerves wrack them. Together they go to pick him up from school.
“How was school?”
“Good.” Not much else.
“Do you have homework?”
“Yes. I am going to do it right away.”
Understand that before this, every night they had to fight to get Edward to even consider doing his homework. Today, he takes his school backpack and goes upstairs.
Hours pass. They sneak up and see Edward is carefully working and writing out his homework. Not wanting to break his concentration they say nothing.
The next day, same thing. The day after that, same thing. Weeks go by and Edward is really focused on his math. The parents are just about to explode wanting to know what has happened.
Finally, they must know, and they ask him directly.
Edward takes in a deep breath and lets it go slowly. “When I saw that guy nailed to the plus sign, I knew they were really serious about math!”
