Comments on: Kindergarten "redshirting." What would you do?
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- Unfortunately, this also has an opposite effect for "smart" girls who are born after the cutoff by days and should probably be ahead a grade.
Unfortunately, with all the red shirting going on, who wants their daughter in HS with boys/"men" who are possibly 2 years or more older than her?
Also, FYI, the tests for advancement are rigid and made particularly more difficult for whatever reason (my guess is to keep "smart" kids in their grade level to raise the schools' test scores)
To advance a grade, one has to take 4 subj. matter tests and score 90 or above on EACH of the 1-2 hour test -- for a 2nd grader!
If you actually sit in the grade all year and score at least a 70, you get moved up.
How much sense does THAT make??!! - Reply to this comment
- I am 59. When I was a kid in Minnesota, the cut off for Kindergarten was 5 years old by January 1. My birthday is early December so I started Kindergarten as a 4 year old. We moved to Wisconsin in the first part of 2nd grade. The principal wanted to put me in a first grade class because of my age, but after testing me, said he couldn't do it. He cautioned my mom that sports might be an issue. I played hockey and ran track - did just fine. I was the first in my family to graduate from college (did it with Honors) and have had quite a successful adult life. This red-shirting for Kindergarten is purely a fantasy for this new breed we can likely call helicopter parents as they constantly hover and don't let the kids be!
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- My daughter Allison was born on November 23, 1980. The cutoff date for school in our district is in December. Allison was 91/2 pounds when she was born but as she grew, we realized she was very petit. She began reading and writing when she was 3 or 4 years old. She went to preschool for 2 years and loved it. Never had any separation anxiety or anything. However, when it came time for school, I realized she would have been the tiniest girl in class, although exceptinally verbal and able to read and write. So Ikept her home for another year to let her grow in stature some more. I did mpt want her treated like a doll, she has big blue eyes and curly red hair. So, when she entered kindergarten she was five going on six. She was still very tiny. Our school system then had dual grde classes, so when she was in second grade, she was placed in a 2-3 class. Every year until 6th grade, she received enrichment because of the dual grade setup. She loved it. After graduating from high school she attended Rutgers and then UMDNJ. She is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I highly recommend keeping a child at home for another year if there is a real reason for doing it. While at home we read, played, went places, spent time with her brother and grandfather, listened to NPR, listened to music, watched great movies, and I had the pleasure of being around an exceptionally pleasant, kind, beautiful little girl. That decision was one I feel benefitted her greatly.
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- I feel this story was very gender biased. Every story was about a boy, not once were girls mentioned. As studies show girls mature faster than boys. So, if a girl was held back wouldn't she have a HUGE advantage in the years to come.
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- My birthday is November 17. The cut-off for kindergarten was December 1st. I never had a problem, always was on the honor roll, graduated in the National Honor Society with a 3.85, went to college, graduated and was an educator for 36 years. I was not yet 5 years old when I began my formal education. It all depends on the individual child and the home. We had books everywhere. We played spelling games on the way to the bank every week in the car. On vacation we were given pencils and a pad of paper to jot down the license plates of cars that we saw & when we got to the motel we had to look up the capitals of those states. Socially I had a lot of friends and was involved in many activities. It would have never crossed my parents' minds to hold me back another year.
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- This is such a sad commentary on the nature of life in our nation..We now have the privledge wanting to stack the cards for thier offspring..
This selfish peer driven mindset does not enhance our nation in any measure..
What a ugly protrayal of parenting..*** - Reply to this comment
- My children started on time. My daughter's birthday was August 28 and she was small for her size, but brilliant. She graduated number 11 in her senior class. She was tapped to give the 8th graduation speech for Grover Middle school in West Windsor Plainsboro school district in NJ. Last year she graduated Suma *** Laude with a double major and captain of the Women's Ice Hockey team. I see no value to holding a brilliant mind back. My father graduated from high school at age 15 with an IQ of 190 and was recruited by MIT. So much for following fads like sheep. My son was one of only 13 New Jersey students to enroll in UC Berkeley. I think holding children back is worthless.
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- I have 2 sons (1 born in late Oct. & the other late Nov.).The school system we lived in recommended we send 4yrs & 10mos. It was the worst mistake that we ever made. We retained both boys and now they are thriving beautifully with the rest of his piers. Every child is different, and learns at different times. I feel that a parent knows their child best. Never second guess yourselves when it comes to your child(ren)s future. Your the parent trust your gut.
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- Why not also do a segment on IEP's and if they might "black List" children and never allow them to grow on their own. My child has a birthday 5 days before the cut off, had speech delays, developmental delays and behavioral issues. But because he was going to be five by 9/1 he had to move into kindergarten in order to still receive services through the district. From the day he was born, I thought I would let him go into kindergarten at age 6. Then he had the delays, which confirmed my decision even more. I even talked to the principal the first week of Kindergarten, letting her know that I had misgivings about him going to Kindergarten and maybe if he went he would probably repeat that year. She assured me that in the end, it would be my decision to make. So at the end of the year, after every night of my son saying, "I don't have school tomorrow Mom?" and then crying when I said "yes, you have school," and every morning almost the same question and reaction to my answer, as well as constant resistance from him when having to do his homework, EVERY NIGHT, my husband and I made my decision. I contacted the teacher, which is the first in the chain to contact. She then had his resource teacher contact me, who then set up a meeting the last day of school. I went in thinking I was talking to the teacher and principal, and finding myself surrounded by eight people who were all in agreement that my son should continue on to first grade and if needed, he would repeat first grade. They said they do not retain children with IEP's. He only got through the year because he had at least two hours of out of classroom help every day AND a teacher's aide there to help him every day. I honestly don't believe he will need special assistance much longer. The resource teacher said "he knows it." I do not have any worries about his academics, or should I say, I do not worry that he will not be number one in his class. I am fine with him being average. What I want for him is the time to mature and be with kids that are at his maturity level. His kindergarten teacher said she was worried about him when she saw him interact with some kids that came in that were younger, that he acted more like them. Well, weird, right because, hmmm, he is younger!!! SO now, I have to make a tough decision to let him go and hope he is not always behind or to put him in another kindergarten program somewhere else and let him gain some confidence. It sucks! He had been born 5 days later, I would not be writing this. Wait, I was induced! So I blame my OB/GYN now!
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- As someone with 4 boys, 3 of whom are already in school, I wish I had redshirted. My boys are doing fine, but they're piled with requirements even in elementary...not to even mention middle school demands. Their grades and social status are fine, but they spend far too much time stressing out. While some districts are letting down students with lackluster education, many others are ridiculously competitive, with far too many academic requirements requested of children far too early. Our district even recently started a Pre-K program on the premise that children should go all day a full year before K "to stay ahead of the curve and meet all state requirements for K." Really?! My youngest will not be going to K until he is 6, even though he already reads one month short of 4 due to his older siblings' influence and begs to get on the school bus. He needs another year to play and be his own person, enjoying the wonders of the world. That's what childhood used to be, and I'll protect his right to it as long as I can do so, even if it means I have to pay for childcare or preschool. I am just thankful I have the priviledge of making that choice!
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