Genuinely don't get why redshirting in K is allowed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying I have no dog in this fight – I have two kids with April and November birthdays. I just genuinely don't get this redshirting fad (yes, it seems like a fad to me). Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Someone will be the oldest and youngest - my older kid is the smallest, though not the youngest, in his class - do what? The teachers know how to deal with it, and it's part of school life. I really don't see why this is even allowed.

The rules are the rules. Here are the rules in Maryland:

1. All children who will be 5 years old by September 1 of any given year must attend school in either a licensed private or public school Kindergarten that year, with three exceptions for
a. immaturity
b. attendance in a licensed child-care center
c. attendance in a registered family day-care home
2. A child whose birthday falls within 6 weeks after September 1 may be considered for early entrance to kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know why parents do it - to skew things to their kid's advantage. School systems allow it based on the precedent that, in very rare cases especially special needs, it is needed.

Several of the kids in my child's AAP class were redshirted.

Were they gifted? Or were they just a year older and just learning at tye same rate as all the kids who were in the grade above, at an age where one year development makes a big difference in how quickly kids pick up skills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying I have no dog in this fight – I have two kids with April and November birthdays. I just genuinely don't get this redshirting fad (yes, it seems like a fad to me). Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Someone will be the oldest and youngest - my older kid is the smallest, though not the youngest, in his class - do what? The teachers know how to deal with it, and it's part of school life. I really don't see why this is even allowed.

The rules are the rules. Here are the rules in Maryland:

1. All children who will be 5 years old by September 1 of any given year must attend school in either a licensed private or public school Kindergarten that year, with three exceptions for
a. immaturity
b. attendance in a licensed child-care center
c. attendance in a registered family day-care home
2. A child whose birthday falls within 6 weeks after September 1 may be considered for early entrance to kindergarten.

Add that it is within the discretion of the school whether to give a waiver. Our school generally requires a kid be tested before granting a waiver if they are not summer birthdays. If you don't like the policy, write to your school board instead of starting yet another redshirting thread..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know why parents do it - to skew things to their kid's advantage. School systems allow it based on the precedent that, in very rare cases especially special needs, it is needed.

Several of the kids in my child's AAP class were redshirted.

Were they gifted? Or were they just a year older and just learning at tye same rate as all the kids who were in the grade above, at an age where one year development makes a big difference in how quickly kids pick up skills?

Aren't the tests for the app age normal rather than grade normed? Ifn such cases,,the kids would actually be at a disadvantaged because they have had fewer years of formal education than all kids of the same age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying I have no dog in this fight – I have two kids with April and November birthdays. I just genuinely don't get this redshirting fad (yes, it seems like a fad to me). Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Someone will be the oldest and youngest - my older kid is the smallest, though not the youngest, in his class - do what? The teachers know how to deal with it, and it's part of school life. I really don't see why this is even allowed.

Have you never read the myriad of posts already dedicated to this topic?

I don't believe you don't have a dog in this fight. High marks for subtly. Points deducted for beating a dead horse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know why parents do it - to skew things to their kid's advantage. School systems allow it based on the precedent that, in very rare cases especially special needs, it is needed.

Several of the kids in my child's AAP class were redshirted.

Were they gifted? Or were they just a year older and just learning at tye same rate as all the kids who were in the grade above, at an age where one year development makes a big difference in how quickly kids pick up skills?

Aren't the tests for the app age normal rather than grade normed? Ifn such cases,,the kids would actually be at a disadvantaged because they have had fewer years of formal education than all kids of the same age.

Yes, but teacher evaluations are a big part of the selection process. An older 8.5 year old 2nd grade boy that is behaving and blazing through work faster than the age appropriate kids is much more likely to get a better evaluation than a just turned seven year old boy who is behaving in a grade and age appropriate way and is a little less mature than the kid who should be in third grade.

[Anonymous]

Kindergarten isn't what it used to be - now it's more like first grade used to be (too much academics and too little play.) I kept my son with an August birthday home because I wanted him to have another year of play before the work of school started. I didn't want him graduating from high school at 17. He's tall and academically advanced and I still haven't regretted it.

[Anonymous]

If you are not a troll, OP, you are a dum dum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying I have no dog in this fight – I have two kids with April and November birthdays. I just genuinely don't get this redshirting fad (yes, it seems like a fad to me). Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Someone will be the oldest and youngest - my older kid is the smallest, though not the youngest, in his class - do what? The teachers know how to deal with it, and it's part of school life. I really don't see why this is even allowed.

It is not a fad it has been around since my parents were children in the 1930's and probably before that. Not all children are ready for kindergarten at the same chronological age. Some need more time to mature before they start school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know why parents do it - to skew things to their kid's advantage. School systems allow it based on the precedent that, in very rare cases especially special needs, it is needed.

Several of the kids in my child's AAP class were redshirted.

Were they gifted? Or were they just a year older and just learning at tye same rate as all the kids who were in the grade above, at an age where one year development makes a big difference in how quickly kids pick up skills?

Do you know? Do you have enough information about them to know? Is it any of your business?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying I have no dog in this fight – I have two kids with April and November birthdays. I just genuinely don't get this redshirting fad (yes, it seems like a fad to me). Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Someone will be the oldest and youngest - my older kid is the smallest, though not the youngest, in his class - do what? The teachers know how to deal with it, and it's part of school life. I really don't see why this is even allowed.

Have you never read the myriad of posts already dedicated to this topic?

I don't believe you don't have a dog in this fight. High marks for subtly. Points deducted for beating a dead horse.

I really don't. And why would I be a troll? No posts here have answered my question. Sure, in the case of severe special needs, accommodations should be made. But some kids will be immature. Some will be more ready than others. That's life.

[Anonymous]

I don't care what other people do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me start by saying I have no dog in this fight – I have two kids with April and November birthdays. I just genuinely don't get this redshirting fad (yes, it seems like a fad to me). Why aren't the rules the rules? Why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Someone will be the oldest and youngest - my older kid is the smallest, though not the youngest, in his class - do what? The teachers know how to deal with it, and it's part of school life. I really don't see why this is even allowed.

Have you never read the myriad of posts already dedicated to this topic?

I don't believe you don't have a dog in this fight. High marks for subtly. Points deducted for beating a dead horse.

I really don't. And why would I be a troll? No posts here have answered my question. Sure, in the case of severe special needs, accommodations should be made. But some kids will be immature. Some will be more ready than others. That's life.

What is your question? Why aren't the rules the rules? Several posters have answered that question -- the rules ARE the rules. You just don't like the rules.

Or is your question, why isn't the deadline hard and fast? Several posters have also answered that question -- because children are not identical.

But again: if you think that there should be no redshirting, don't waste your time starting another thread on DCUM. Start lobbying your state legislature and your local school board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are not a troll, OP, you are a dum dum.

Thanks for the mature and enlightening response.

[Anonymous]

If they are doing too well and are red shirted they should skip a grade