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My son's first grade class
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Anonymous
| FWIW, my kid is young for grade (with kids 1+ year older in the class) and it's a non-issue. If anything, the older kids seem to have more issues than the younger ones. Just what I have observed. |
Anonymous
| My nephew has a May birthday. He was 7, yes 7, for 6 weeks in Kindergarten. |
Anonymous
| I fought, fought, fought against red-shirting our summer-birthday DC for a long time, even after administrators from over 10 private schools said DC was not yet ready for K. Current teacher agreed. Even the public school K teachers questioned DC's readiness. So I finally got over my ego and reminded myself that this is DC's experience, not mine. We did everything possible to prepare DC for kindergarten, but DC still needs more time to mature. Star athlete, joyous kid, but needs a year of structured Pre-K to get in the academic swing of things. So that's what we're doing. OP, would it give you a vicarious thrill to see my kid struggle? As a PP noted, I bet you wouldn't be smiling if my struggling kid took up all of the teacher's time. You do what's right for your kid, and we'll do what's right for ours. |
Anonymous
I am the poster who posed the struggling child consuming the teachers time abstract question. Thank you for sharing your experience - and your statement of .... You do what's right for your kid, and we'll do what's right for ours. |
Anonymous
|
I don't understand why people think parents are pushing "redshirting" -- it was the school officials that refused to even consider letting my DS with a summer birthday be in the grade I thought he should have been in -- they all insisted he be held back.
We talked to a number of private schools in DC and got the same story everywhere. Even went to one of those "consultants" who agreed with the schools. Don't resent the parents -- it's not our fault! |
Anonymous
Is he developmentally delayed? |
Anonymous
|
OP, would it make you feel better if you just think of the older kids as having "flunked" 1st grade? Just pretend they went to first grade last year, but flunked the grade and now have to repeat it.
Now it doesn't feel like they are getting away with anything, right? |
Anonymous
|
"I don't understand why people think parents are pushing "redshirting" -- it was the school officials that refused to even consider letting my DS with a summer birthday be in the grade I thought he should have been in -- they all insisted he be held back.
We talked to a number of private schools in DC and got the same story everywhere. Even went to one of those "consultants" who agreed with the schools. Don't resent the parents -- it's not our fault!" I think that OP is an idiot. However, parents who hold their kids back also have to take responsibility for their decisions - and they should do so proudly when they make the decision that is in the best interest of the child. To say that a school would not accept a child is disingenuous. Schools are obligated by law to accept your child once your child reaches admission age. You might not like the placement you get if you start them earlier than the child is ready so you may choose to hold them back. But, in the end, a public school cannot refuse your child admission when your child reaches the admission age. |
Anonymous
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PP the poster you quoted is talking about private school, not public.
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Anonymous
Why? Because she thinks it's not ideal for a 7 year old to be in first grade? That's her opinion. And maybe it's yours that that is a good idea. But there are plenty of people who think it is an unfortunate trend that children who are developmentally on-track are being held back by their own parents. Yes, these parents should take responsibility for their decisions. Such when their kids wonder why. |
Anonymous
how do you define "Star athlete" for kids before K? |
Anonymous
|
I think OP is resentful b/c she worries that the older students have an advantage over her child. OP - seriously - get over it. I second another PP who noted that this DID in fact happen 15-20 years ago when I was in school. We just - as kids - didn't give a sh*t how old our friends were (until they got their license earlier than us - that was cool). I had friends in the same grade who were a year older. Big deal. Didn't make a difference in terms of academics OR athletics.
I have 2 boys with fall birthdays - luckily they missed the fall cutoff and will start a year later. I say "luckily" b/c at least now I won't have to explain my parenting decisions to people like OP. Because I am pretty sure that at least my older boy - if he was born 2 weeks earlier and made the cutoff - would be held back. His needs speech therapy and - while developmentally "on track" - really could use the extra year to mature. OP, if tables were turned, I bet you'd do the exact same thing... |
Anonymous
| If you wish to optimize the educational potential and success of your child and maintain your sanity I advise that you redirect the focus of your energies to your child and not others in his class. |
Anonymous
|
I agree with OP actually. I think it's an unfortunate trend that does end up skewing the way schools teach. Ultimately, we'll get to the point where all kids are legally mandated to start K at 6 and do away with the choice at 5 years old.
As a parent who didn't redshirt, but could have, it was the best decision ultimately because it identified LDs that another year of pre-K would not have. I think a lot of parents are deluding themselves. |
Anonymous
| OP is entitled to her opinion. It is one that I may not necessarily share but it doesn't make her an idiot. Even if she does pereceive some disadvantage for her child. We are all trying to provide every advantage for our kid(s). |