For starters treat the kids like people. I don't know how many times kids compared their schools to prisons. Nobody wants to be in prison. The home environment

For starters treat the kids like people. I don't know how many times kids compared their schools to prisons. Nobody wants to be in prison. The home environment also contributes a great deal to academic success or failure. I know of households that actively dissuade kids from pursuing academic success. If parents won't intervene in their children's education for any reason that diminishes their chance of success.