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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]I think I need to first let you know where I stand on the redshirting issue, so you will be more informed about my position. First, I am against redshirting, period. I feel all children should start K when they are old enough, unless they have delays, in which case maybe they should be enrolled in a different school where their needs can be more appropriately met. Redshirting does not give a child an academic advantage. I believe it hinders them in the long run, and can have negative social implications.

Also, age and looks are not relevant in this case. Handsome boys/men are handsome and pretty girls/women are pretty, whether they are 2 years older or younger. We all attended school with big jocks, so yes - age will give the children (boys in articular) a physical advantage for sports.

Really smart children that are advanced socially, emotionally, and academically will not usually admire older bigger children who are academically slow. Also, I am not predicting they will bully less smart kids. I simply know that intellect is still considered a positive thing for kids to possess, and those who have it are often able to recognize or make assumptions about others who seem to lack it in school.

Realist [/quote]

When I went to a swanky NE prep school many decades ago (from a public school) I discovered that many, perhaps upwards of 30 to 40 percent of the students were "red shirted" (whether they came from prestigious day schools in NY or Boston or public schools).  They were redshirted despite, in many cases,  brilliant academic records in their primary schools.  In other words, they could have remained in their home schools and progressed to high school along with their peers.  Instead they opted to go boarding school and marinade in a 4-year "small college-like" boarding experience.

I have come to learn, as many of my classmates have done the same for their progeny today, attending these schools preferring the "magic" about a no less than 4 year experience at some of these places related to "culture, sports, club membership and character building".  To the contrary, many of my older peers were not dumb.  To the contrary, today many are well accomplished in a variety of fields and will attest, down to the last man, that Harvard and Amherst after high school was a walk in the park because academic rigor peaked with their high school experience.

Today, many students (up to 20 percent) will "redshirt" or take a year off before entering college.  Granted, they may be older (even perhaps wiser)  than their classmates at Harvard or Amherst,  but not necessarily more dumb or victimised by the younger students.

With folk living  well into their 80s and 90s these days it is much more important to get a quality education.  Rushing to the finish line at 17 (high school) and 21 (college) and then bouncing around from one unsatisfactory job to the next for the next 50 years is not what I would wish for any youngster.  Finishing 1 or 2 (even 3) years later and having a productive, rewarding and satisfying occupation seems much more important and preferable.

In the grand scheme of things, this makes discussions, out of any context to the child, about "redshirting" before K, 9th or the undergraduate years seem superfluous in light of a potential adulthood career that may span 50 to 60 years.[/quote]As adults we compete with each other regardless of age.  Once you complete high school you can take a yer off or do whatever you want but in school we compete within age boundaries.  In sports (outside of school) there are age cut-offs, ittle league and football.  Age makes a difference with younger kids eventually it does not matter but do you really think that comparing the average 5 year old and 7 year old academically is fair?  I doubt it, there should not be a contest the avg. 7 year old should win.[/quote]

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