Why is redshirting so rare if it's so advantageous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of high stat kids and none of them are redshirted. On the contrary most are greenshirted (young for their grade level). I think those kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year.

+1 Kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year, and parents and kids know how this works. So, every kid held back will, unfortunately, carry that stigma. Think of your own school years; you remember exactly the kids who were held back and why. You may say things are different now because of this or that. Refer to your current list of kids who have been held back and think about how you think of them. Don't do this to your children unless they need it.

Its not the same as it was when kids were "held back" (failed a grade) in the 1970s. It is normal and accepted for kids to start in one year OR the next. Kids don't think about it.

Yes, kids think about it and talk about it.

In the sense of "lucky!" when someone has a birthday. Seriously, kids don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of high stat kids and none of them are redshirted. On the contrary most are greenshirted (young for their grade level). I think those kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year.

+1 Kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year, and parents and kids know how this works. So, every kid held back will, unfortunately, carry that stigma. Think of your own school years; you remember exactly the kids who were held back and why. You may say things are different now because of this or that. Refer to your current list of kids who have been held back and think about how you think of them. Don't do this to your children unless they need it.

Its not the same as it was when kids were "held back" (failed a grade) in the 1970s. It is normal and accepted for kids to start in one year OR the next. Kids don't think about it.

Yes, kids think about it and talk about it.

I think embarrassment as a child is worthy price to pay for high success as an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of high stat kids and none of them are redshirted. On the contrary most are greenshirted (young for their grade level). I think those kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year.

+1 Kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year, and parents and kids know how this works. So, every kid held back will, unfortunately, carry that stigma. Think of your own school years; you remember exactly the kids who were held back and why. You may say things are different now because of this or that. Refer to your current list of kids who have been held back and think about how you think of them. Don't do this to your children unless they need it.

That won't be a problem if they don't share their age with anyone else.

I promise you every kid knows the ages of the other kids from birthday parties, etc. I suppose you could devise a plan such that your child's true age was never shared with anyone, but that would be an act or pure evil.

That was just a proposal for parents who would want to hide their child's age. Again, what does it matter if a redshirted child's classmates think they're slow or dumb? Kids can teased for all sorts of things, and if a redshirted child is teased by their classmates, they'll have a much easier time defending themselves because they're older.

[Anonymous]

My kids know plenty of classmates who were redshirted and I have never heard them comment that those kids must be slow or dumb. It’s just not how they think about it. Usually because those kids seem more advanced because they are older, and it’s so common that it isn’t really remarkable. It’s weird to me that some of you are fixated on this concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of high stat kids and none of them are redshirted. On the contrary most are greenshirted (young for their grade level). I think those kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year.

+1 Kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year, and parents and kids know how this works. So, every kid held back will, unfortunately, carry that stigma. Think of your own school years; you remember exactly the kids who were held back and why. You may say things are different now because of this or that. Refer to your current list of kids who have been held back and think about how you think of them. Don't do this to your children unless they need it.

Its not the same as it was when kids were "held back" (failed a grade) in the 1970s. It is normal and accepted for kids to start in one year OR the next. Kids don't think about it.

Yes, kids think about it and talk about it.

I think embarrassment as a child is worthy price to pay for high success as an adult.

You're so convinced that redshirting will lead to infinite success. Please explain how it works. I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of high stat kids and none of them are redshirted. On the contrary most are greenshirted (young for their grade level). I think those kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year.

+1 Kids who are redshirted usually need that extra year, and parents and kids know how this works. So, every kid held back will, unfortunately, carry that stigma. Think of your own school years; you remember exactly the kids who were held back and why. You may say things are different now because of this or that. Refer to your current list of kids who have been held back and think about how you think of them. Don't do this to your children unless they need it.

Its not the same as it was when kids were "held back" (failed a grade) in the 1970s. It is normal and accepted for kids to start in one year OR the next. Kids don't think about it.

Yes, kids think about it and talk about it.

I think embarrassment as a child is worthy price to pay for high success as an adult.

You're so convinced that redshirting will lead to infinite success. Please explain how it works. I don't get it.

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-15490760

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/academic-redshirting/

https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/08/beyond-the-pros-and-cons-of-redshirting/401159/

[Anonymous]

The big difference in age is very apparent in middle school and, for boys, that big difference continues through the high school years. For girls, who hit physical maturity a couple years earlier, they will be grown by the time they are in high school.

Go talk to a middle school counselor. Heck, just look at a middle school year book. Gee - who are the older kids and who are the younger kids? It’s not rocket science. If you want your kid to have a decent chance of getting through middle school and high school relatively unscathed, they cannot be young for their grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The big difference in age is very apparent in middle school and, for boys, that big difference continues through the high school years. For girls, who hit physical maturity a couple years earlier, they will be grown by the time they are in high school.

Go talk to a middle school counselor. Heck, just look at a middle school year book. Gee - who are the older kids and who are the younger kids? It’s not rocket science. If you want your kid to have a decent chance of getting through middle school and high school relatively unscathed, they cannot be young for their grade.

So that makes it even more of a mystery as to why redshirting is so rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The big difference in age is very apparent in middle school and, for boys, that big difference continues through the high school years. For girls, who hit physical maturity a couple years earlier, they will be grown by the time they are in high school.

Go talk to a middle school counselor. Heck, just look at a middle school year book. Gee - who are the older kids and who are the younger kids? It’s not rocket science. If you want your kid to have a decent chance of getting through middle school and high school relatively unscathed, they cannot be young for their grade.

So that makes it even more of a mystery as to why redshirting is so rare.

Haven't we gone full circle on this yet? It's expensive to wait another year. Most people who are on the cusp wouldn't be able to do another year of daycare, preschool, etc. It's a financial decision.

[Anonymous]

I would never suggest redshirting being wrong for a child who physically or mentally needs the extra time. If that is your child, then ignore below because it does not apply to you.

But in general, for people who redshirt to give their kids a “leg up,” I think it is just another example of how a group of well-off, predominantly white people are able to exert their privilege to hoard opportunity for their children. For families who are middle class or poor, paying for another year of daycare is just not possible. Their kids must go as soon as possible. More than likely, children from well off families would be academically ahead of those children regardless of whether they were redshirted or not. Privilege in the early years will have already impacted their development. And so adding one more year for privileged children, who already have every advantage in the world, will just make the gap wider.

At some point it just feels like people need to stop taking advantage of the system to give their children these “little legs up.” And for me at least, redshirting feels like an example of taking things too far. I am sure, for many other people, redshirting isn’t the line too far- but something else might be. Or, for some, the line is probably long before redshirting takes place. I get that. My kids have a ton of privilege and I am not voluntarily giving up much of it. But for whatever reason, to me, redshirting is where I say “enough.” It is my breaking point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:#1 My June baby was ready for kindergarten. So we put her in kindergarten

#2 I was asking about kids with Fall birthdays. It wouldn't really make sense to hold back someone with a June birthday seeing as how they're already on the older half by default.

#3 I assume pp means her child turned 5 in June and they sent her to k at age 5. Therefore, she is on the younger side for the class.

Op, it's already been said, but most kids will turn 6 in Kindergarten. Redshirting a fall birthday child means they would already be 6 when they enter K, and turn 7 right at the beginning of the school year. That seems like a significant difference--your 7 year old would be in class with 5 year olds. You're asking why people don't do that? Because it's not how we do school here. 7 year olds will have a hard time making friends with 5 year olds, or their maturity level will be brought down to the 5yo level.

#4 Literally what are you even talking about, and what school did you attend that apparently did not teach you basic mathematics?

#5 Uhh... the pp was correct. June BDs generally should have about ~75% of class being older than they are (those born from the prior Oct through May)... the only younger students are those who were born in July-Sep.

#6 Uhh no. The PP is not smart and says the June birthdays are the older half. Someone is presuming the classroom is on a calendar year with a 12/31 cut off. If the cutoff is in the fall they are younger. Her default is not really anyone’s default.

No, that's not what the PP (#3) said. #4 appeared to be confused and disagreed, so I (#5) was trying to clarify why #3 was correct. I believe you (#6) are referring to #2 as PP instead. In short, we agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never suggest redshirting being wrong for a child who physically or mentally needs the extra time. If that is your child, then ignore below because it does not apply to you.

But in general, for people who redshirt to give their kids a “leg up,” I think it is just another example of how a group of well-off, predominantly white people are able to exert their privilege to hoard opportunity for their children. For families who are middle class or poor, paying for another year of daycare is just not possible. Their kids must go as soon as possible. More than likely, children from well off families would be academically ahead of those children regardless of whether they were redshirted or not. Privilege in the early years will have already impacted their development. And so adding one more year for privileged children, who already have every advantage in the world, will just make the gap wider.

At some point it just feels like people need to stop taking advantage of the system to give their children these “little legs up.” And for me at least, redshirting feels like an example of taking things too far. I am sure, for many other people, redshirting isn’t the line too far- but something else might be. Or, for some, the line is probably long before redshirting takes place. I get that. My kids have a ton of privilege and I am not voluntarily giving up much of it. But for whatever reason, to me, redshirting is where I say “enough.” It is my breaking point.

Well everyone will make the decision for their own children, as you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The big difference in age is very apparent in middle school and, for boys, that big difference continues through the high school years. For girls, who hit physical maturity a couple years earlier, they will be grown by the time they are in high school.

Go talk to a middle school counselor. Heck, just look at a middle school year book. Gee - who are the older kids and who are the younger kids? It’s not rocket science. If you want your kid to have a decent chance of getting through middle school and high school relatively unscathed, they cannot be young for their grade.

I am not holding my kid back just because other people do it. Anyway, we’re at a public school and most people don’t redshirt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would never suggest redshirting being wrong for a child who physically or mentally needs the extra time. If that is your child, then ignore below because it does not apply to you.

But in general, for people who redshirt to give their kids a “leg up,” I think it is just another example of how a group of well-off, predominantly white people are able to exert their privilege to hoard opportunity for their children. For families who are middle class or poor, paying for another year of daycare is just not possible. Their kids must go as soon as possible. More than likely, children from well off families would be academically ahead of those children regardless of whether they were redshirted or not. Privilege in the early years will have already impacted their development. And so adding one more year for privileged children, who already have every advantage in the world, will just make the gap wider.

At some point it just feels like people need to stop taking advantage of the system to give their children these “little legs up.” And for me at least, redshirting feels like an example of taking things too far. I am sure, for many other people, redshirting isn’t the line too far- but something else might be. Or, for some, the line is probably long before redshirting takes place. I get that. My kids have a ton of privilege and I am not voluntarily giving up much of it. But for whatever reason, to me, redshirting is where I say “enough.” It is my breaking point.

Well everyone will make the decision for their own children, as you have.

I agree with PP. Unless your kid has some sort of challenging situation where holding back is merited, redshirting goes beyond trying to maximize your kids' chances/opportunities on a level playing field... it's just straight up trying to tilt the playing field to your kids' advantage.

[Anonymous]

It's probably been discussed in these 12 pages, but I definitely feel like boys have a tougher time being young for their grade than girls. We just followed our school's recommended cut off dates, but those ended up with our son's fall birthday making him old for his grade and our daughter's late summer birthday making him young for her grade.

Academics were never going to be an issue for either of them. But socially and physically, I think my son would have faced challenges if he'd been on the young end where my daughter never had many problems.