Just another redshirting vent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendly acquaintance posted a "back to school" pic of her son complete with his age (6.75 years) and grade (Junior First/ Prep First/ whatever your private school calls it). This little boy has a late fall birthday!!! He is going to be almost 8 years old when he starts first grade. Meanwhile, my child has a July birthday and I cannot afford private so he will be starting K right after he turns 5 and starting first right after he turns 6. He and this child are going to be almost 2 full years apart while in the same grade. I KNOW, it doesn't affect me in the slightest especially since he isn't even at my child's school. But it makes me so angry! My child is a little socially immature and I am worried he is not only going to be chronologically the youngest when he starts real school but he is going to be socially young for his age too, making it so much harder for him if his classroom is full of kids who are 7 when he is only 5. Ugh. Vent over. Side note- does anyone know if redshirting is as prevalent in public schools?

This is not about the kid redshirted, this is about your insecurity about you kid being too immature and you too cheap to give him the gift of a year. Your kid will be be behind and that's your choice.

That's just a cruel thing to say. Some people can't afford that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendly acquaintance posted a "back to school" pic of her son complete with his age (6.75 years) and grade (Junior First/ Prep First/ whatever your private school calls it). This little boy has a late fall birthday!!! He is going to be almost 8 years old when he starts first grade. Meanwhile, my child has a July birthday and I cannot afford private so he will be starting K right after he turns 5 and starting first right after he turns 6. He and this child are going to be almost 2 full years apart while in the same grade. I KNOW, it doesn't affect me in the slightest especially since he isn't even at my child's school. But it makes me so angry! My child is a little socially immature and I am worried he is not only going to be chronologically the youngest when he starts real school but he is going to be socially young for his age too, making it so much harder for him if his classroom is full of kids who are 7 when he is only 5. Ugh. Vent over. Side note- does anyone know if redshirting is as prevalent in public schools?

This is not about the kid redshirted, this is about your insecurity about you kid being too immature and you too cheap to give him the gift of a year. Your kid will be be behind and that's your choice.

That's just a cruel thing to say. Some people can't afford that!

It's also backwards. Sending a child to kindergarten on time won't make them "behind". Holding them back a year will make them "behind".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendly acquaintance posted a "back to school" pic of her son complete with his age (6.75 years) and grade (Junior First/ Prep First/ whatever your private school calls it). This little boy has a late fall birthday!!! He is going to be almost 8 years old when he starts first grade. Meanwhile, my child has a July birthday and I cannot afford private so he will be starting K right after he turns 5 and starting first right after he turns 6. He and this child are going to be almost 2 full years apart while in the same grade. I KNOW, it doesn't affect me in the slightest especially since he isn't even at my child's school. But it makes me so angry! My child is a little socially immature and I am worried he is not only going to be chronologically the youngest when he starts real school but he is going to be socially young for his age too, making it so much harder for him if his classroom is full of kids who are 7 when he is only 5. Ugh. Vent over. Side note- does anyone know if redshirting is as prevalent in public schools?

This is not about the kid redshirted, this is about your insecurity about you kid being too immature and you too cheap to give him the gift of a year. Your kid will be be behind and that's your choice.

That's just a cruel thing to say. Some people can't afford that!

It's also backwards. Sending a child to kindergarten on time won't make them "behind". Holding them back a year will make them "behind".

You say this like kindergarten is the only source of knowledge and learning in the world. Be honest. The sum total of kindergarten academics could probably be taught to an average five-year old in a week in a one-on-one setting. I'm exaggerating of course but you get the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendly acquaintance posted a "back to school" pic of her son complete with his age (6.75 years) and grade (Junior First/ Prep First/ whatever your private school calls it). This little boy has a late fall birthday!!! He is going to be almost 8 years old when he starts first grade. Meanwhile, my child has a July birthday and I cannot afford private so he will be starting K right after he turns 5 and starting first right after he turns 6. He and this child are going to be almost 2 full years apart while in the same grade. I KNOW, it doesn't affect me in the slightest especially since he isn't even at my child's school. But it makes me so angry! My child is a little socially immature and I am worried he is not only going to be chronologically the youngest when he starts real school but he is going to be socially young for his age too, making it so much harder for him if his classroom is full of kids who are 7 when he is only 5. Ugh. Vent over. Side note- does anyone know if redshirting is as prevalent in public schools?

This is not about the kid redshirted, this is about your insecurity about you kid being too immature and you too cheap to give him the gift of a year. Your kid will be be behind and that's your choice.

That's just a cruel thing to say. Some people can't afford that!

It's also backwards. Sending a child to kindergarten on time won't make them "behind". Holding them back a year will make them "behind".

You say this like kindergarten is the only source of knowledge and learning in the world. Be honest. The sum total of kindergarten academics could probably be taught to an average five-year old in a week in a one-on-one setting. I'm exaggerating of course but you get the point.

Sure, I agree with you. But beyond kindergarten, if a child continues on a school trajectory, a child that starts K at 5 will be "ahead" of a child that starts K at 6, academically, through her entire school career. She'll be one year ahead. Not behind, as PP said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendly acquaintance posted a "back to school" pic of her son complete with his age (6.75 years) and grade (Junior First/ Prep First/ whatever your private school calls it). This little boy has a late fall birthday!!! He is going to be almost 8 years old when he starts first grade. Meanwhile, my child has a July birthday and I cannot afford private so he will be starting K right after he turns 5 and starting first right after he turns 6. He and this child are going to be almost 2 full years apart while in the same grade. I KNOW, it doesn't affect me in the slightest especially since he isn't even at my child's school. But it makes me so angry! My child is a little socially immature and I am worried he is not only going to be chronologically the youngest when he starts real school but he is going to be socially young for his age too, making it so much harder for him if his classroom is full of kids who are 7 when he is only 5. Ugh. Vent over. Side note- does anyone know if redshirting is as prevalent in public schools?

This is not about the kid redshirted, this is about your insecurity about you kid being too immature and you too cheap to give him the gift of a year. Your kid will be be behind and that's your choice.

That's just a cruel thing to say. Some people can't afford that!

It's also backwards. Sending a child to kindergarten on time won't make them "behind". Holding them back a year will make them "behind".

You say this like kindergarten is the only source of knowledge and learning in the world. Be honest. The sum total of kindergarten academics could probably be taught to an average five-year old in a week in a one-on-one setting. I'm exaggerating of course but you get the point.

It always baffles me that people think K is about the academic content that the children will learn. You're right- it could be taught in a week, by a patient and motivated teacher and a motivated and eager child. K is about socialization, group activities, learning how to be in a school environment and follow classroom rules, etc. You can't teach that in a week. And it absolutely matters if one kid is over a year younger than everyone else- they will be unable to fully benefit from this transition into formal schooling because the teachers will be forced to tailor the class activities to the interests of kids who are 6.5-7 years old instead of 5 years old. A 7 year old isn't going to be interested in sitting in a circle singing the "Hello" song from Music Together, or dancing to the ABCs as a group. A 7 year old will say that's babyish, and make fun of the babies who would actually enjoy something like this- something geared towards 5 year olds- like K should be.

[Anonymous]

No child will be 7 in K! Even if they are redshirted they will be 6!! I wish the over exaggerating will stop on this forum. Good grief!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friendly acquaintance posted a "back to school" pic of her son complete with his age (6.75 years) and grade (Junior First/ Prep First/ whatever your private school calls it). This little boy has a late fall birthday!!! He is going to be almost 8 years old when he starts first grade. Meanwhile, my child has a July birthday and I cannot afford private so he will be starting K right after he turns 5 and starting first right after he turns 6. He and this child are going to be almost 2 full years apart while in the same grade. I KNOW, it doesn't affect me in the slightest especially since he isn't even at my child's school. But it makes me so angry! My child is a little socially immature and I am worried he is not only going to be chronologically the youngest when he starts real school but he is going to be socially young for his age too, making it so much harder for him if his classroom is full of kids who are 7 when he is only 5. Ugh. Vent over. Side note- does anyone know if redshirting is as prevalent in public schools?

This is not about the kid redshirted, this is about your insecurity about you kid being too immature and you too cheap to give him the gift of a year. Your kid will be be behind and that's your choice.

That's just a cruel thing to say. Some people can't afford that!

It's also backwards. Sending a child to kindergarten on time won't make them "behind". Holding them back a year will make them "behind".

You say this like kindergarten is the only source of knowledge and learning in the world. Be honest. The sum total of kindergarten academics could probably be taught to an average five-year old in a week in a one-on-one setting. I'm exaggerating of course but you get the point.

It always baffles me that people think K is about the academic content that the children will learn. You're right- it could be taught in a week, by a patient and motivated teacher and a motivated and eager child. K is about socialization, group activities, learning how to be in a school environment and follow classroom rules, etc. You can't teach that in a week. And it absolutely matters if one kid is over a year younger than everyone else- they will be unable to fully benefit from this transition into formal schooling because the teachers will be forced to tailor the class activities to the interests of kids who are 6.5-7 years old instead of 5 years old. A 7 year old isn't going to be interested in sitting in a circle singing the "Hello" song from Music Together, or dancing to the ABCs as a group. A 7 year old will say that's babyish, and make fun of the babies who would actually enjoy something like this- something geared towards 5 year olds- like K should be.

Exactly. That is why K is reserved for 5 and 6 year olds, so the 7 year olds are not bored -- not only that year, but every year thereafter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It always baffles me that people think K is about the academic content that the children will learn. You're right- it could be taught in a week, by a patient and motivated teacher and a motivated and eager child. K is about socialization, group activities, learning how to be in a school environment and follow classroom rules, etc. You can't teach that in a week. And it absolutely matters if one kid is over a year younger than everyone else- they will be unable to fully benefit from this transition into formal schooling because the teachers will be forced to tailor the class activities to the interests of kids who are 6.5-7 years old instead of 5 years old. A 7 year old isn't going to be interested in sitting in a circle singing the "Hello" song from Music Together, or dancing to the ABCs as a group. A 7 year old will say that's babyish, and make fun of the babies who would actually enjoy something like this- something geared towards 5 year olds- like K should be.

There is no one kid who is over a year younger. There are a handful of kids (or one!) who is a year older. Most everyone is 5. Redshirted kids are a minority in classrooms. So your scenario isn't actually real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No child will be 7 in K! Even if they are redshirted they will be 6!! I wish the over exaggerating will stop on this forum. Good grief!

How so? My kid was 5 and turned 6 partway through K. If I had redshirted him, he'd be 6 and turn 7 partway through K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No child will be 7 in K! Even if they are redshirted they will be 6!! I wish the over exaggerating will stop on this forum. Good grief!

How so? My kid was 5 and turned 6 partway through K. If I had redshirted him, he'd be 6 and turn 7 partway through K.

Most redshirted kids have birthdays in August or September meaning they are still 6 till the academic years ends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No child will be 7 in K! Even if they are redshirted they will be 6!! I wish the over exaggerating will stop on this forum. Good grief!

How so? My kid was 5 and turned 6 partway through K. If I had redshirted him, he'd be 6 and turn 7 partway through K.

Most redshirted kids have birthdays in August or September meaning they are still 6 till the academic years ends.

Did you read the OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No child will be 7 in K! Even if they are redshirted they will be 6!! I wish the over exaggerating will stop on this forum. Good grief!

How so? My kid was 5 and turned 6 partway through K. If I had redshirted him, he'd be 6 and turn 7 partway through K.

Most redshirted kids have birthdays in August or September meaning they are still 6 till the academic years ends.

Did you read the OP?

The OP is about ONE kid, who goes to a private school (which yes, does have an incentive to drag an extra year of tuition out if mom and dad); and OP is extrapolating to “my son’s public school K class will be full of 7 year olds.” That’s just crazy. Whether or not an almost 8 year old first grader is “normal” at whatever private school that one kid goes to, it’s not going to be normal at OP’s public school. If it happens at all it’s going to be extremely rare. There’s no such thing as “pre-first” in public school and in public school that kid either gets “held back” (repeats K) or moves on to first. And unless there are really significant issues, he would not be held back. OP is freaking out over nothing with a sample size of 1. Her kid will be fine. She needs to chill out and not compare herself to others. You never know everything that’s going on with others. Don’t compare your life to their happy Facebook faces. Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anti-redshirt posters on DCUM generally are bad at the concept of statistical samples, true.

[Anonymous]

Wait, your kid is on time and you're upset some super moron was held back twice? Like envious of the doofus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, your kid is on time and you're upset some super moron was held back twice? Like envious of the doofus?

That doofus is unfortunately not labeled as such and will be competing against the 'started on time' kids in college applications along with whatever academic competitions they enter before then. You can't seriously suggest that an 16 year old isn't at an enormous advantage sitting any academic test against a 14 year old, regardless of what their formal education has been. There's a reason the criminal justice system considers minors as minors - because their brain is still developing. And it continues to develop rapidly until the age of 18 or even slightly beyond that. The average 16 year old will outperform the average 14 year old in an IQ test, regardless of the stuff they've learned in classes.