This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

The problem is not the 13 month difference. The problem is that soon it will be a 14 month difference, then the people with June kids will see the trend and say that they don't want THEM to be the youngest so then THEY will start red shirting. It is the trend of kindergarten getting older and older for affluent, white students. Those who cannot afford to keep their child at home another year have to send their child on. Lets not forget that it also makes the teachers job harder because he/she now has to prepare lessons for a class made up of kids with an age variation of over 15 months at some points....

And yes, it is an individual decision but those younger kids are being compared to the older kids....you KNOW it happens.....And the fact that the younger kids may not have as many facts under their belt as the older ones is being used as evidence that they were not ready for K, when in fact, they are the age that students are supposed to be when they go to K, as deemed by the State of VA.If you have an issue with that, then work to get the state cutoff changed - don't argue about it here.

People hold their kids back because they don't want them to be the youngest. Guess what? Someone has to be....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is not the 13 month difference. The problem is that soon it will be a 14 month difference, then the people with June kids will see the trend and say that they don't want THEM to be the youngest so then THEY will start red shirting. It is the trend of kindergarten getting older and older for affluent, white students. Those who cannot afford to keep their child at home another year have to send their child on. Lets not forget that it also makes the teachers job harder because he/she now has to prepare lessons for a class made up of kids with an age variation of over 15 months at some points....

And yes, it is an individual decision but those younger kids are being compared to the older kids....you KNOW it happens.....And the fact that the younger kids may not have as many facts under their belt as the older ones is being used as evidence that they were not ready for K, when in fact, they are the age that students are supposed to be when they go to K, as deemed by the State of VA.If you have an issue with that, then work to get the state cutoff changed - don't argue about it here.

People hold their kids back because they don't want them to be the youngest. Guess what? Someone has to be....

No arguing necessary, Virginia allows me to not start my child until he or she is 6. As the law is written, it's entirely my choice. Maybe those who object to redshirting are the ones who need to work to have the school entry date changed. The cutoff says you can't start unless you are five before October first and the school entry requirement says your child has to start school by age six. Within those guidelines, it's entirely the parents' decision.

[Anonymous]

People hold their kids back because they don't want them to be the youngest. Guess what? Someone has to be....

As a former K teacher, I can tell you that being the oldest doesn't equate to being the smarted. I can also tell you that I taught K children who were plenty smart and able to handle the academics, but due to maturity issues, would have benefited from another year.

[Anonymous]

As a former K teacher, I can tell you that being the oldest doesn't equate to being the smarted. I can also tell you that I taught K children who were plenty smart and able to handle the academics, but due to maturity issues, would have benefited from another year.
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PP--I apologize for typos and errors. I was in too much of a hurry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

People hold their kids back because they don't want them to be the youngest. Guess what? Someone has to be....

As a former K teacher, I can tell you that being the oldest doesn't equate to being the smarted. I can also tell you that I taught K children who were plenty smart and able to handle the academics, but due to maturity issues, would have benefited from another year.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As a former K teacher, I can tell you that being the oldest doesn't equate to being the smarted. I can also tell you that I taught K children who were plenty smart and able to handle the academics, but due to maturity issues, would have benefited from another year.

If Kindergarten is such that average age appropriate children are too immature to handle it (not even academically, but in terms of seat work expectations and the like) then teachers need to make Kindergarten age appropriate. Or the ages need to be changed to reflect what Kindergarteners are expected to handle.

This should not be left up to the parents reacting to the inappropriate expectations of Kindergarten teachers & administrators. A 5 year old who struggles to write neatly is an average 5 year old. A 5 year old who gets up to hijinks when expected to sit in a chair for an hour is an average 5 year old. A 5 year old who needs more than 15 minutes of recess is an average 5 year old. Average 5 year olds should not be too immature for a grade that's supposedly designed for average 5 year olds.

[Anonymous]

From what I have seen, the end of school year date is the red line for "redshirting". Having "redshirted" and talked with many parents who considered the same, there is a great reluctance to hold back if the kid will turn the next age while still in school. Summer bdays are seen as the gray area.

I think people like to focus on the one off examples of people holding back April or May bdays because it sounds more dramatic. You sound more fanatical going off about the kid with an Aug or Sept bday being held back though that is really mostly what we are talking about.

Of all the kids I am aware of that were held back (probably over 20 across various sports teams and activities), the oldest hold backs I know are 2 kids with June bdays. I think these did actually fall in FCPS school year but parents probably felt they could fudge it.

[Anonymous]

I taught K back in the day. Even then, some kids just needed another year. I would definitely not put a
Sep boy in K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I taught K back in the day. Even then, some kids just needed another year. I would definitely not put a
Sep boy in K.

I am glad you are no longer teaching if you couldn't cope with the classes created by the school's rules.

[Anonymous]

I am glad you are no longer teaching if you couldn't cope with the classes created by the school's rules.

What makes you think I couldn't cope. I never booted anyone. I just care about the kids and what is best for them. Obviously, some of you on this website don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught K back in the day. Even then, some kids just needed another year. I would definitely not put a
Sep boy in K.

I am glad you are no longer teaching if you couldn't cope with the classes created by the school's rules.

+1,000. Either the kindergarten teachers in Virginia are totally incompetent because they can't teach an "immature" child of kindergarten age, or the entire education system has gone off the deep end because they have created a kindergarten curriculum that is fundamentally impossible for 5% - 25% of children (those who are redshirted) to participate in. Or else, parents are gaming the system and the teachers are complicit because they either don't feel like taking on the entitled parents or because they are lazy and don't want to have to create a differentiated learning environment that meets the needs of all 5 year olds.

Which is it?

[Anonymous]

I taught K for one year and first for 11. I know that redshirting an immature kid is worthwhile.(I'm talking about a child who is within three months of the cutoff.) Redshirting a "slow" child does not pay off.

[Anonymous]

+1,000. Either the kindergarten teachers in Virginia are totally incompetent because they can't teach an "immature" child of kindergarten age, or the entire education system has gone off the deep end because they have created a kindergarten curriculum that is fundamentally impossible for 5% - 25% of children (those who are redshirted) to participate in. Or else, parents are gaming the system and the teachers are complicit because they either don't feel like taking on the entitled parents or because they are lazy and don't want to have to create a differentiated learning environment that meets the needs of all 5 year olds.

Which is it?

One of the children I taught and recommended repeat K was just fine academically. But, his interests were those of younger children. He did not fit in socially and he was close to the cutoff age.

[Anonymous]

I see it over and over where parents of redshirted kids demand a harder curriculum in K.

[Anonymous]

+1,000. Either the kindergarten teachers in Virginia are totally incompetent because they can't teach an "immature" child of kindergarten age, or the entire education system has gone off the deep end because they have created a kindergarten curriculum that is fundamentally impossible for 5% - 25% of children (those who are redshirted) to participate in. Or else, parents are gaming the system and the teachers are complicit because they either don't feel like taking on the entitled parents or because they are lazy and don't want to have to create a differentiated learning environment that meets the needs of all 5 year olds.

Which is it?

No. K teachers are trained to understand and teach young children. They also understand that the demands of school today are strong. What is your issue with this? I think you must want your child to be the oldest.