Enough is enough with the redshirting!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange how it seems so many of you don’t understand how cutoff dates are arbitrary. There will always be someone on the edge of the cutoff who will either be the oldest or the youngest. Whining about how it’s not fair serves no purpose and doesn’t even make logical sense.

I agree with you that cutoff dates are arbitrary and there will always be kids who are oldest/youngest. I disagree with you that the current ability to ignore the published cutoffs and choose a different grade for your child is necessary or fair. In some school systems, the cutoffs are hard and you cannot redshirt, ensuring the age spread within a grade remains 12 months. I wish this were our rule because I think it’s a better and more fair system. People are allowed to want this and work toward its implementation. You’re allowed to prefer the current rules. You don’t need to accuse people of misunderstanding or act pedantic when people have an opinion different from yours.

So you think it’s “fair” to not allow kids to be held back (for example) even if academically they’re not ready for the next grade?

Being held back for academic performance reasons is not the same as redshirting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

In elementary school, decisions about whether or not kids should play sport should be based on whether they enjoy and get anything out of it, not how good they are. Kids are really competitive will play at higher levels when they are older and can play club sports in elementary. But for school-based and rec sports, the goal should be to teach kids physical fitness, teamwork, and to give them a place outside home and school where they can socialize and interact with others. It's actually a vital developmental opportunity, not the early stages of scouting for college sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange how it seems so many of you don’t understand how cutoff dates are arbitrary. There will always be someone on the edge of the cutoff who will either be the oldest or the youngest. Whining about how it’s not fair serves no purpose and doesn’t even make logical sense.

I agree with you that cutoff dates are arbitrary and there will always be kids who are oldest/youngest. I disagree with you that the current ability to ignore the published cutoffs and choose a different grade for your child is necessary or fair. In some school systems, the cutoffs are hard and you cannot redshirt, ensuring the age spread within a grade remains 12 months. I wish this were our rule because I think it’s a better and more fair system. People are allowed to want this and work toward its implementation. You’re allowed to prefer the current rules. You don’t need to accuse people of misunderstanding or act pedantic when people have an opinion different from yours.

So you think it’s “fair” to not allow kids to be held back (for example) even if academically they’re not ready for the next grade?

It’s fair. By all means do what you want for your kid. It can just be annoying for those who are at a disadvantage being younger. It’s just going to be harder all the way through with sports and even college admissions. This year is going to be tough with more kids overall and older, more mature kids. That’s all. It is a bit of an annoyance when your own kid is going to have to keep up with that and opportunities are harder to get. It’s not the end of the world. I just adjust my expectations and help them adjust theirs.

If you don't think your kid can "compete" you are welcome to hold him/her back. Stop worrying about what other parents are doing.

Why should properly enrolled kids need to game the system for an advantage that is only needed because YOU already gamed the system? Where does it stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange how it seems so many of you don’t understand how cutoff dates are arbitrary. There will always be someone on the edge of the cutoff who will either be the oldest or the youngest. Whining about how it’s not fair serves no purpose and doesn’t even make logical sense.

I agree with you that cutoff dates are arbitrary and there will always be kids who are oldest/youngest. I disagree with you that the current ability to ignore the published cutoffs and choose a different grade for your child is necessary or fair. In some school systems, the cutoffs are hard and you cannot redshirt, ensuring the age spread within a grade remains 12 months. I wish this were our rule because I think it’s a better and more fair system. People are allowed to want this and work toward its implementation. You’re allowed to prefer the current rules. You don’t need to accuse people of misunderstanding or act pedantic when people have an opinion different from yours.

So you think it’s “fair” to not allow kids to be held back (for example) even if academically they’re not ready for the next grade?

It’s fair. By all means do what you want for your kid. It can just be annoying for those who are at a disadvantage being younger. It’s just going to be harder all the way through with sports and even college admissions. This year is going to be tough with more kids overall and older, more mature kids. That’s all. It is a bit of an annoyance when your own kid is going to have to keep up with that and opportunities are harder to get. It’s not the end of the world. I just adjust my expectations and help them adjust theirs.

If you don't think your kid can "compete" you are welcome to hold him/her back. Stop worrying about what other parents are doing.

Why should properly enrolled kids need to game the system for an advantage that is only needed because YOU already gamed the system? Where does it stop?

Im not the one saying that. You are. You're the one whining that your kid cant compete and it's so unfair. And I didn't redshirt but I wish I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

Here’s a hot take. Maybe holding back is the only reason your kid is playing and they aren’t that good anyways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

In elementary school, decisions about whether or not kids should play sport should be based on whether they enjoy and get anything out of it, not how good they are. Kids are really competitive will play at higher levels when they are older and can play club sports in elementary. But for school-based and rec sports, the goal should be to teach kids physical fitness, teamwork, and to give them a place outside home and school where they can socialize and interact with others. It's actually a vital developmental opportunity, not the early stages of scouting for college sports.

And having kids years older on the same team can inhibit the development of the younger kids who wont get the ball as much or get discouraged because they cannot possibly compete with the older kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange how it seems so many of you don’t understand how cutoff dates are arbitrary. There will always be someone on the edge of the cutoff who will either be the oldest or the youngest. Whining about how it’s not fair serves no purpose and doesn’t even make logical sense.

I agree with you that cutoff dates are arbitrary and there will always be kids who are oldest/youngest. I disagree with you that the current ability to ignore the published cutoffs and choose a different grade for your child is necessary or fair. In some school systems, the cutoffs are hard and you cannot redshirt, ensuring the age spread within a grade remains 12 months. I wish this were our rule because I think it’s a better and more fair system. People are allowed to want this and work toward its implementation. You’re allowed to prefer the current rules. You don’t need to accuse people of misunderstanding or act pedantic when people have an opinion different from yours.

So you think it’s “fair” to not allow kids to be held back (for example) even if academically they’re not ready for the next grade?

It’s fair. By all means do what you want for your kid. It can just be annoying for those who are at a disadvantage being younger. It’s just going to be harder all the way through with sports and even college admissions. This year is going to be tough with more kids overall and older, more mature kids. That’s all. It is a bit of an annoyance when your own kid is going to have to keep up with that and opportunities are harder to get. It’s not the end of the world. I just adjust my expectations and help them adjust theirs.

If you don't think your kid can "compete" you are welcome to hold him/her back. Stop worrying about what other parents are doing.

Why should properly enrolled kids need to game the system for an advantage that is only needed because YOU already gamed the system? Where does it stop?

Im not the one saying that. You are. You're the one whining that your kid cant compete and it's so unfair. And I didn't redshirt but I wish I did.

There’s multiple people replying. I’m the OP and that wasn’t my response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange how it seems so many of you don’t understand how cutoff dates are arbitrary. There will always be someone on the edge of the cutoff who will either be the oldest or the youngest. Whining about how it’s not fair serves no purpose and doesn’t even make logical sense.

I agree with you that cutoff dates are arbitrary and there will always be kids who are oldest/youngest. I disagree with you that the current ability to ignore the published cutoffs and choose a different grade for your child is necessary or fair. In some school systems, the cutoffs are hard and you cannot redshirt, ensuring the age spread within a grade remains 12 months. I wish this were our rule because I think it’s a better and more fair system. People are allowed to want this and work toward its implementation. You’re allowed to prefer the current rules. You don’t need to accuse people of misunderstanding or act pedantic when people have an opinion different from yours.

So you think it’s “fair” to not allow kids to be held back (for example) even if academically they’re not ready for the next grade?

It’s fair. By all means do what you want for your kid. It can just be annoying for those who are at a disadvantage being younger. It’s just going to be harder all the way through with sports and even college admissions. This year is going to be tough with more kids overall and older, more mature kids. That’s all. It is a bit of an annoyance when your own kid is going to have to keep up with that and opportunities are harder to get. It’s not the end of the world. I just adjust my expectations and help them adjust theirs.

If you don't think your kid can "compete" you are welcome to hold him/her back. Stop worrying about what other parents are doing.

Why should properly enrolled kids need to game the system for an advantage that is only needed because YOU already gamed the system? Where does it stop?

That’s why it keeps becoming more outrageous. Now kids in the fall want the advantage May and June has. It will keep being pushed further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

It’s not a few, it’s half. I said that in an earliest post. Half are a year older so the younger kid has to be better than kids older to play. Your comment is rude and it’s actually just wrong.

This whole thread is rude and reeks of sour grapes. Bunch of bored moms acting like their kids’ elementary schools are some sort of Battle Royale.

Some kids are naturally smarter, is that fair to the dumber kids? Some kids are more athletic, is that fair to the awkward kids? Some kids are really good looking, is that fair to the non-looker kids?

Life isn’t fair. Other families decisions about when to send their kid to school doesn’t *actually* affect your kid. You’re just ridiculously competitive.

(And no, none of my kids were redshirted or otherwise held back.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

In elementary school, decisions about whether or not kids should play sport should be based on whether they enjoy and get anything out of it, not how good they are. Kids are really competitive will play at higher levels when they are older and can play club sports in elementary. But for school-based and rec sports, the goal should be to teach kids physical fitness, teamwork, and to give them a place outside home and school where they can socialize and interact with others. It's actually a vital developmental opportunity, not the early stages of scouting for college sports.

I agree totally. It’s dumb coaches are making decisions at this age to play some kids more or that there are so many competitive teams. I wish it started later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strange how it seems so many of you don’t understand how cutoff dates are arbitrary. There will always be someone on the edge of the cutoff who will either be the oldest or the youngest. Whining about how it’s not fair serves no purpose and doesn’t even make logical sense.

I agree with you that cutoff dates are arbitrary and there will always be kids who are oldest/youngest. I disagree with you that the current ability to ignore the published cutoffs and choose a different grade for your child is necessary or fair. In some school systems, the cutoffs are hard and you cannot redshirt, ensuring the age spread within a grade remains 12 months. I wish this were our rule because I think it’s a better and more fair system. People are allowed to want this and work toward its implementation. You’re allowed to prefer the current rules. You don’t need to accuse people of misunderstanding or act pedantic when people have an opinion different from yours.

So you think it’s “fair” to not allow kids to be held back (for example) even if academically they’re not ready for the next grade?

It’s fair. By all means do what you want for your kid. It can just be annoying for those who are at a disadvantage being younger. It’s just going to be harder all the way through with sports and even college admissions. This year is going to be tough with more kids overall and older, more mature kids. That’s all. It is a bit of an annoyance when your own kid is going to have to keep up with that and opportunities are harder to get. It’s not the end of the world. I just adjust my expectations and help them adjust theirs.

If you don't think your kid can "compete" you are welcome to hold him/her back. Stop worrying about what other parents are doing.

Why should properly enrolled kids need to game the system for an advantage that is only needed because YOU already gamed the system? Where does it stop?

Im not the one saying that. You are. You're the one whining that your kid cant compete and it's so unfair. And I didn't redshirt but I wish I did.

I think we agree. I don’t think redshirting is fair. It gives the older kids an unfair advantage over kids who were properly enrolled at the right time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

In elementary school, decisions about whether or not kids should play sport should be based on whether they enjoy and get anything out of it, not how good they are. Kids are really competitive will play at higher levels when they are older and can play club sports in elementary. But for school-based and rec sports, the goal should be to teach kids physical fitness, teamwork, and to give them a place outside home and school where they can socialize and interact with others. It's actually a vital developmental opportunity, not the early stages of scouting for college sports.

I agree with this, but of course this also wouldn’t take into account the kids’ ages so the complaints about redshirting shouldn’t matter.

[Anonymous]

I’m the OP and I think it’s fair, people can do what they want but I do think it’s out of hand and getting worse just to have an advantage in elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

It’s not a few, it’s half. I said that in an earliest post. Half are a year older so the younger kid has to be better than kids older to play. Your comment is rude and it’s actually just wrong.

This whole thread is rude and reeks of sour grapes. Bunch of bored moms acting like their kids’ elementary schools are some sort of Battle Royale.

Some kids are naturally smarter, is that fair to the dumber kids? Some kids are more athletic, is that fair to the awkward kids? Some kids are really good looking, is that fair to the non-looker kids?

Life isn’t fair. Other families decisions about when to send their kid to school doesn’t *actually* affect your kid. You’re just ridiculously competitive.

(And no, none of my kids were redshirted or otherwise held back.)

We aren’t talking about a natural advantage. We are talking about an intentional manipulation. How can you pretend that class rankings are not affected by this? Many of us have personal experience. You can’t gaslight us that easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two ten year olds in my child’s third grade class. When will a school draw a line with this?

So they'd have Oct-Dec birthday in 2014? That's 11-9 months older than the oldest regular 3rd grader. My son had one in his class, the kid was fine except a little better at sports/leadership esp during recess, which was the daily social life of DS. But I think if they misbehave, they'd misbehave even without being redshirted.

Yes. This is OP. We expected summer redshirts but we did not expect this. It’s gotten so out of hand.

Why is it “getting” out of hand? It’s 3rd grade now. Haven’t the peers stayed the same since kindergarten? Either change schools or make the best of it. Are you also the poster constantly agitating about the basketball team that is by grade and is a constant source of frustration for you?

We have room for everyone on our schools sports team because it’s no cut but it is by grade so the oldest kids tend to be best. Which is fine, just annoying. They definitely let everyone know they are better too. It’s all fine, I would just describe it as annoying since many people use it as a tool to have an advantage in team sports and don’t really have a reason.

Here’s a hot take on the sports advantage issue: if having a few older kids on the team makes a big difference to whether or not your kid plays, your kid isn’t that good anyway, so who cares?

In elementary school, decisions about whether or not kids should play sport should be based on whether they enjoy and get anything out of it, not how good they are. Kids are really competitive will play at higher levels when they are older and can play club sports in elementary. But for school-based and rec sports, the goal should be to teach kids physical fitness, teamwork, and to give them a place outside home and school where they can socialize and interact with others. It's actually a vital developmental opportunity, not the early stages of scouting for college sports.

And having kids years older on the same team can inhibit the development of the younger kids who wont get the ball as much or get discouraged because they cannot possibly compete with the older kids.

My kid has never been held back or redshirted and is usually one of the youngest on his various teams and often plays up. Why? Because he has the unfair advantage of being big and athletic. Just like your kid might have an unfair academic advantage of being born with an above average IQ. Do the average kids in the class get discouraged because they don’t get called on as much? They never get the academic achievement awards?

Why are you convinced that the only metric that matters is birth year?