Underachievers" the 'Bart Simpson' syndrome. (supplement)

If your child does not finish school assignments, or makes excuses about forgotten assignments, you may be worried about that child's performance. "Underachievers" are not necessarily dumb kids. The key word is "underachiever."

Underachieving students may have average, above average, and even gifted abilities but do now work up to their potential in school. These children sometimes have poor study skills or a lack of perseverance. They may escape to books, television or video games instead of doing their school work. They often are disorganized and uninterested in most academic subjects and describe school as boring or useless.

Children underachieve primarily for two reasons.

(1) They have not experienced the relationship between their own …