He did well on his senior project, a report on firefighting. His academic performance is another story. He has the math skills of a middle schooler. His reading and writing skills are even weaker, according to his mother and his former English teacher at Helix. In this frenzied age of education reform, Americans complain that public schools demand too little of students.
Educators complain that many parents are unable or unwilling to push their kids to get good grades.
Then there' s Justin. He' s hyperactive. He' s hard of hearing. He has struggled with an often sour attitude toward school. His parents, Tim and Cheryl Traut, are pleased with what he has achieved, given his challenges.