Feeling Heartbroken

[MikeC]

So, I had a "minor" hernia reapair surgery this past Friday that I scheduled a couple of months ago.  I work a swing/night type of shift so I don't get to spend many evenings with my wife, 10 year old son and 6 year old daughter. Being off work for 2 weeks and a little research later I decided it would be a great time to take my son to hunters education class. Talked with my brother in law and ended up enrolling my 11 year old nephew as well. Classes began Monday night,  both boys paying good attention and tonight was the written exam towards the end of class. Well,  my son ended up missing 1 too many questions and did not pass. His cousin naturally passed and is moving forward to the field course on Saturday. My son took the news like a man,  but after we left he fell apart. I reiterated how proud of him I am, but spending all day Saturday with his cousin and not him will be really tough, probably more so for me than him... Life lessons suck

[Old Dog]

I taught HE for many years, and 10 year old boys seemed to have the toughest time.  The reading material is geared towards 12 year olds to start off, and then you have the fact that a lot of the 10 years old boys just don't have a very long attention span.  Get him into the next class you can, the quicker the better.  Now that he knows what to expect he will do much better.  In the mean time get him out in the yard with an airgun or broom stick if you don't have anything else, and work on muzzle control. I understand the shift you work makes that difficult, but it won't do him any good to pass the written test if he can't handle the field course.   

[RadSav]

Not a darn thing wrong with the occasional failure.  It's how we find our way back on the right track.  I am a firm believer that we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes.  I expect next time your son will score near 100%.  He will take it more seriously and listen with more intent.  Will probably come out of this with a greater respect for the rules and guidelines of Hunter Safety.

And it's a really good reason to tell the wife you and your son need to go to Cold Stone and get a much needed cricket sunday.  That's quality father/son time.

[HntnFsh]

I'm sure he got a participant trophy though! Doesn't everybody get one!

Sorry, I just couldn't resist. I agree with RadSav. Its part of lifes lessons and I'm sure he'll do great next time! And you will have the opportunity to spend quality time with these youngsters as they go through the process. I am going to try to get my grandson into a class pretty soon. Looking forward to it. Best of luck to your Son next time around!

[headshot5]

Not a darn thing wrong with the occasional failure.  It's how we find our way back on the right track.  I am a firm believer that we learn more from our failures than we do from our successes.  I expect next time your son will score near 100%.  He will take it more seriously and listen with more intent.  Will probably come out of this with a greater respect for the rules and guidelines of Hunter Safety.

Everything that RAD says above is true IMO.  I've learned way more from my failures than my wins.  It's good for a kid to find out that its okay to lose one once in a while, as long as they learn from it.  Sounds like he is taking it fine.  A little ribbing from his cousin won't hurt him either.     

[daddysprad]

My 9 year old grandson took his test last Friday with his mom.  He missed 3 too many so we're in the same boat.  We feel your pain.

[pianoman9701]

The most common reason for the younger ones to fail the test is not having it read to them. I would suggest that he next take the online course and when he goes in for the test and field day, have him request to have the test read to him. It's not a reading test. We don't care how their reading comprehension is. It's a Hunter Ed test. We care that they'll be safe in the field with a firearm. And, he should use every advantage available to him. Good luck to your nephew tomorrow and your son the next time. I'm sure he'll do better.

[trophyhunt]

The most common reason for the younger ones to fail the test is not having it read to them. I would suggest that he next take the online course and when he goes in for the test and field day, have him request to have the test read to him. It's not a reading test. We don't care how their reading comprehension is. It's a Hunter Ed test. We care that they'll be safe in the field with a firearm. And, he should use every advantage available to him. Good luck to your nephew tomorrow and your son the next time. I'm sure he'll do better.

exactly!  I have a friend who's son failed the written test, the instructor took him aside and read those questions to him that he got wrong.  He then answered the questions correctly, the instructor passed him!  I was very impressed the instructor did that, our kids will learn most about this stuff just being out in the woods with mom and dad.  Too bad your sons instructor didn't read him the questions he got wrong, he'll get it next time! 

[Widgeondeke]

I have learned in both life and as a 4-H volunteer. We teach Life Lessons and help the kids learn whether pass or fail and they will fail.
 as stated by the others, sign him up again. If you can't get time off work get mom or the uncle to take him.

My son passed at 10 1/2, but I was allowed to take the course with him(there were no shows and open slots). We were great study buddies. I will say a few of the questions really made me think, but I got 100% on the test 

[huntingfool7]

The OP doesn't say so but it's likely the test was read to his son.  In any case Old Dog is right, get him into the next class and he's likely to sail through the written test.  While you have the time off of work, spend it working on muzzle control.  During the field test, he'll be handling full size firearms and will have to carry it safely through the walk through. 

[Magnum_Willys]

Yea the reading is the tough part.  My son passed at 8 but just barely was able to read everything quick enough to make the time limit. 

When lil sis took the test at age 10 she breezed through but there were a lot of students that were having the questions read to them - and they were in high school  I won't mention the rural town but geez....

[jpharcher]

Sorry to hear that but I believe minor failures and setbacks in life are good for our kids.....believe it or not every child should not get a trophy.

[MikeC]

Thanks for all the positive replies. Originally when we left last night and dropped off his cousin he was so upset saying he didn't want to do it again. A little encouragement,  and I also told him I'd take the course as a student with him and now he wants to. I've emailed the lead instructor already as he gave me a list of upcoming class dates and we are going to do the class in June which starts the week after he gets out of school.

[steen]

So, I had a "minor" hernia reapair surgery this past Friday that I scheduled a couple of months ago.  I work a swing/night type of shift so I don't get to spend many evenings with my wife, 10 year old son and 6 year old daughter. Being off work for 2 weeks and a little research later I decided it would be a great time to take my son to hunters education class. Talked with my brother in law and ended up enrolling my 11 year old nephew as well. Classes began Monday night,  both boys paying good attention and tonight was the written exam towards the end of class. Well,  my son ended up missing 1 too many questions and did not pass. His cousin naturally passed and is moving forward to the field course on Saturday. My son took the news like a man,  but after we left he fell apart. I reiterated how proud of him I am, but spending all day Saturday with his cousin and not him will be really tough, probably more so for me than him... Life lessons suck

I teach Hunter Safety and we always give the kids a read off of the questions they missed and if they answer  a good many right we still pass them. With the younger kids it is usually better to have the test read to them, they understand it better. We also let them run through the hands on more than once, because we are here to teach. Many are very nervoguns have never handled a gun and just need to get familiar with the firearms

[REHJWA]

When studying have him come up with questions for you, and good luck in June.