Joel,
You are so very thoughtful in your blogs. I enjoy reading them and especially to learn of your high dedication to your students and their education. Your attitude is wonderful in wanting to continue to help those students who don't seem to want it themselves! There may be other avenues for them rather than graduating from a typical high school. Perhaps technical and/or vocational education would be more appropriate for some of them. I have never had the experience that you are having with this age students. Most of my experience has been with PK-4th. grade children, who for the most part still like school and even though they struggle, they haven't usually given up yet.
Have these particular students been identified as needing extra help, are they not getting reinforcement from home, or have given up because they have not been successful in years past?
Keep up your good attitude. I have some inspirational books that teachers have written about these type of students...if that would help keep up your morale.
Kaye :-)