My son's kindergarten class has several 7 yr olds in it.

[Anonymous]

Why do many elite area private schools redshirt kids?

Why do area private school parents comply meekly with the school's redshirt decisions?

Who has the placement decision power -- the Parent (the Payer) or the Prinicipal?

[Anonymous]

I think the anti-redshirters are much too quick to assume that, unless they were told by the parents about the issues/delays (which they acknowledge can be a valid reason to hold a kid back), then the parents must have done it for some ridiculous competitive advantage.

I redshirted one of my children. He had/has all sorts of issues - attention disorder, severe anxiety, immaturity - and it was a good decision. But if you were to ask me why we delayed kindergarten entrance, I wouldn't tell you all of that - I'd just say that we thought he wasn't ready and decided to wait. The rest isn't really your business, and not information we want to spread to just anyone.

[Anonymous]

The only reason it freaks people out in this context is that they are assuming the situation (kindergarten, remember) is a competitive one and that an older kid's presence puts their own kid at a disadvantage. That's why I see the anti-redshirters as the hypercompetitive ones.

I completely agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Exactly. Due to their superabnormal hypercompetitive nature and habit. These parents automatically assume inferiority in their young child and superiority in the older child. It's their internal psychological dysfunction not an external operational or regulatory issue.

More balanced parents and kindergarterns are neither threatened by older or younger children in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

I suspect these parents, in high numbers, do their children's homework, hire outside tutoring, medicate and litigate for spurious accommodations, and grade grub for their prize kids through college or up until their children threaten to disown them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exactly. Due to their superabnormal hypercompetitive nature and habit. These parents automatically assume inferiority in their young child and superiority in the older child. It's their internal psychological dysfunction not an external operational or regulatory issue.

Are you in some sort of contest to see who can string together the most five-syllable words? All your posts are like this. I think you're winning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

To me, the hyper-competitive parents are the ones bitching about red-shirting rather than the ones doing it. God knows what prize they think their child is being deprived of in Kindergarten by being forced to compete with slightly older kids.

No, it is the hyper-competitive parents who are redshirting their Jan-May kids who are forcing such an age disparity in the classrooms. The rest of the people are reacting to it. At the age of 5, 16-18 months as an upper standard in the classroom is not "slightly older". Sure, when kids are in high school, you have Freshmen trying out for varsity sports and are thus 14-15 year olds competing against 18-19 year olds. But don't you think the ratios outline in this thread are extreme for the ages being discussed?

Holding back kids with Jan - April birthdays is the rare exception. It is not "pervasive." Your "on time" child is not under threat.

[Anonymous]

The anti-redshirters are the real cheaters. Is that better for those who are monosyllabic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The anti-redshirters are the real cheaters. Is that better for those who are monosyllabic?

Whatever makes you feel better about your decision.

[Anonymous]

No -- that's just stupid. The argument that kindergarten isn't a competition and that readiness is a more important criterion for exclusion than birthdate is an argument that red-shirting isn't "cheating." It's not an argument that enrolling kids on the typical schedule *is* cheating. The latter claim makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The only reason it freaks people out in this context is that they are assuming the situation (kindergarten, remember) is a competitive one and that an older kid's presence puts their own kid at a disadvantage. That's why I see the anti-redshirters as the hypercompetitive ones.

I completely agree with this.

Probably this, I don't know for sure. But I do know that the "problem" is not what it's drummed up to be.

[Anonymous]

Since this is in the private school forum, is redshirting just that much more prevalent at private schools as compared to public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since this is in the private school forum, is redshirting just that much more prevalent at private schools as compared to public?

I don't know but my guess it's probably about the same for private or public. At least in our local FX school, during the kindergarten roundup (usually held in March before fall K start) the vice principal has clearly stated "if your son is 4 turning 5 this summer, we'll see you NEXT year." Thus, a clear message from this school that encourages summer bday boys to take a gap year. Of course, it is public school and parents are free to agree and wait or go ahead and send their kid "on time." Seems harder to do in private schools where the school has the final say on acceptance/placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The only reason it freaks people out in this context is that they are assuming the situation (kindergarten, remember) is a competitive one and that an older kid's presence puts their own kid at a disadvantage. That's why I see the anti-redshirters as the hypercompetitive ones.

I completely agree with this.

The schools make it competitive the admissions process is competitive. The average to above average 6 year old will gain admissions over the average to above average 5 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The only reason it freaks people out in this context is that they are assuming the situation (kindergarten, remember) is a competitive one and that an older kid's presence puts their own kid at a disadvantage. That's why I see the anti-redshirters as the hypercompetitive ones.

I completely agree with this.

The schools make it competitive the admissions process is competitive. The average to above average 6 year old will gain admissions over the average to above average 5 year old.

No -- the test scores, for example, are all scaled (down to the month). And, of course, admission has ceased to be an issue once you're worried about the ages of other kids in your DC's class.