Jon and Kate Get Schooled (Literally) in Custody Battle

Court-mandated classes loom for Kate and Jon if they're unable to work out their issues privately, as the octodad claims to want

We want Jon Gosselin to go away almost as much as Michael Lohan wants Lindsay to get help, but sadly, you can't always get what you want.

Despite the threat of some court-mandated classwork, J.Goss has so far refused to withdraw his petition for custody—this also despite his most recent claims that he never wanted to cut into Kate's quality time with the kids, that the legal action was simply the brainchild of his since-fired lawyer and that he was all ready to play nice.

This, kids, is what you call a severe lack of follow-through.

But Jon is no longer toiling solo: He's hired a new lawyer and apparently turned over a new leaf. Not that you'd be able to tell by his actions.

This time around, Jon says he wants to work things out between him and Kate away from the media glare and is willing to withdraw his custody petition to do so—not that he's gotten around to actually doing so yet.

"Jon has retained a new lawyer and they're now trying to work out an arrangement that is both private and between themselves," a source close to the octodad told E! News.

As for that pesky still-on-the-books custody filing...

"Jon controls whether he is going to withdraw his petition," Kate's attorney, Mark Momjian, told E! News. "It's up to Jon since he's the petitioning party to determine what he wants to do. If he withdrew his action then there wouldn't be any need to participate in any seminar or anything else."

In this case, that "anything else" is going back to school.

Both Gosselins have been ordered to attend (though thankfully not together) a parenting class titled "Children in the Middle."

"That court-mandated parenting class is required for all custody litigants in Berks County," Momjian said. "Anytime there's a custody action filed, parents get a notice that they have to attend this parenting class."

But should the Gosselins cooperate outside of court, as they claim to want to do, their attendance will no longer be required.

Which we're guessing would be a load off their would-be teacher's shoulders, as well.