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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]As an FCPS parent, I hated having 6th grade in ES.  7 years with the same kids was too much, the kids had physically outgrown the school, and the staff was not at all equipped to deal with the issues and drama of 6th graders. [/quote]

I was in an elementary school that had K-6 and my kids did K-5. While I did have initial apprehension about my 11 year olds going to middle school for 6th, after seeing it both ways, I vastly prefer 6th in middle school.

The comment above about ES not being able to deal with social drama of 6th is spot on. 6th grade was my worst year of school. I did much better with a brand new group of kids and kids in different classes when I finally got to middle school in 7th. [/quote]

Don't you feel like 6th grade in middle makes the kids grow up a little bit faster than they have to though?[/quote]

No, I don't, especially if the schools do a good job supporting them. [/quote]

Really, how so?[/quote]

what's your question? [/quote]

Why you don't think that MS starting in 6th or MS in general doesn't male the kids grow up quicker than they have to. [/quote]

Perhaps it would be helpful if you explained why 6th grade in a building with 7th and 8th forces them to grow up faster than being in a building with K-5th graders. What is it specifically that is done differently in the different building scenarios that forces such tremendous maturation in one year? [/quote]

Well, first of all they seemingly take all the fun out of school. When I got to 6th grade, no more recess. I was 11 years old of course I still needed and wanted recess. Kids maybe able to do without class parties, but still it would be nice for kids to have one last year of school being fun. Also, once in MS adults start telling you that you are "too old" for kid stuff. MS also has way more homework and extracurriculars are pushed, kids are meant to keep busy, not alot of time to go home and play/ hang out with friends  anymore. I loved my k-6 I didn't feel pressured by anyone to give up being a kid.[/quote]

There is always going to be "one last year would be nice" no matter when you break the grades.
Middle schoolers are still able to go outside (theoretically and if it's not under 60 degrees  :roll: ) and run around/play during lunch. They aren't using slides and monkey bars anymore; but they toss footballs around, kick soccer balls, just walk around, etc.
Rest assured, APS is not stealing any childhood away from 6th graders with homework - or 7th or 8th graders, for that matter. And extracurriculars are meant to be fun, to be a time to hang out with friends and make new friends.  And as kids reach these ages, it is good to keep them busy and help them begin to find activities of interest. Look what happens when kids are bored: they fill their time finding other kids with nothing to do and experiment with vaping and drugs, stealing Ronald McDonald, breaking into and burglarizing schools, having sex, getting pregnant. Even 6th graders.
[/quote]

I mean I guess that some middle schoolers are doing those things. My friends and I never did. I think if they are, it has to be something bigger than boredom. Because if you're a kid out playing with your friends, which I think they should be, presumably you wouldn't be bored. [/quote]

I didn't do any of them, either. And I can say the same for high school. Some do/will regardless. But I also think there are those at-risk of falling prey if they're just left to their own devices or have one rebellious friend influencing them. Perhaps being kept busy via school "saves" them.[/quote]

Absolutely, I know that there are at risk kids due to home life, environment, mental illness ect that will lead them to do these things, no question. That's not the same thing, at least in my mind, as being bored. Maybe I'm missing something though.[/quote]

I wasn't referring to "at risk" kids in terms of economic status. I just meant kids who may have tendencies due to the nature of their character to experiment or to be influenced by others or to not independently fill their time with positive activities.[/quote]

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