Once you understand a particular student's assumptions and beliefs, the avoidance of school
tasks makes sense. Very few of us, for example, would make sustained, meaningful efforts to
learn mathematics after years of continued, humiliating failure. Unfortunately, failure
compounds failure, resulting in fearful expectations of even more failure. Thus, antagonistic
behavior to avoid anything to do with mathematics and "save face" should not be unexpected.
From the student's perspective, it makes sense.