That's still a really ignorant punishment. No offense to your mom and dad. Mine were really bad, but when I failed the only class I've ever failed in school (first year of algebra), it was punishment enough just having to take it again. My folks knew how much I hated math... it's not like I needed to repeat all the other classes I aced... that wouldn't have been much of a punishment. I already knew all the material anyway. I could have slept through an entire school year except for the algebra class. (algebra was where I did most of my sleeping anyway)

I take no offense to that. I even think it's a bit harsh, but I cant get mad at them, because they were nice enough to buy me band T-Shirts and pay for my Last.FM account, so I guess they're pretty cool.

You don't have to be mad at them... just remember this when you get older and have kids of your own... don't hold them back on all academic fronts if they do bad in a single area. It's counter-productive and the furthest thing from wise.

nice life lesson there, FD.

I'll keep that in mind.

I don't want to sound preachy or anything... but on the off chance no one has told you that your parents royally screwed you, I figured I would be the one to break the news.

I'm not sure if by this you mean you feel that you are prejudiced (against someone) or that I am being prejudiced against you as a middle schooler. If it's the latter then that's a little silly since we are talking about stereotypes! I didn't get upset when many people stated that girls have worse taste in music, I just accepted that I am the exception.
Though seventh grade is almost high school so you barely fit in the category of middle schooler anymore ;)

I think the argument about your school depends on what kind of school you're in. If you're going to struggle in 4th grade math because you never got past 3rd grade math and there is no way to help you catch up then i can see why your parents might have wanted to keep you back. But it seems to me like the best solution would have been to let you move forward and then get you some extra math help like tutoring to help you catch up. How did you feel about your parents decision? Do you think it helped you? haha this is so off topic.

meh. I never really ever payed attention in school in general until the repeat of the third grade, so I guess it taught me a lesson. I guess it helped me understand what school is for, because before that, I always thought it was a prison for kids with fluorescent lighting. I sure learned a lot from that repeat.

Then that's great :) I think it's everyone's responsibility to take their experiences, even if they're negative, and make something positive out of them. Give that experience meaning you know?
I was always a really good student and loved school but in highschool I got disillusioned with it and dropped out. That experience gave me the opportunity to go to junior college and take back my education with the understanding that I was doing it for myself now, because i really wanted to learn, and not just for my parents or whatever.
Sounds like your school kind of sucks if it makes you feel like you're in prison...

So you're basically saying that you're accepting the notion that girls do have worse taste in music. You know, I once got a pm on last.fm from some guy expressing his disbelief that a female listens to the kinds of music I listen to. I thought he was full of shit, so I told him to look around last.fm and he will find many, many girls with very similar taste to mine. I don't have the need to feel like an exception, because I don't accept that prejudice that girls have worse taste in music, in the first place. But I do believe that passionate music lovers of both genders are an exception from the mass music consumerism of general public.

eh, it was my elementary school, and all kids thought that. Now, I appreciate school much more, because it means I'll be able to go to college and get a job I'll actually like.

Thanks :)