Anonymous
Post 08/28/2013 09:20     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:
My issue with this former teacher's statement is that she wants us to stay "within the guidelines"- what guidelines? if you're 5 by 9/30 must go to school- but then you have some exceptions and then simple redshirting- so the system allowed major loose decisions before age 5 but - oh no- if you are 2 day past that date- well, we have that date for a reason. The "guidelines" should be a lot firmer on the other end to prevent this huge age discrepancy in grades.


Huh? From Arlington Public School's website:

Children who reach their fifth birthday on or before Sept. 30 may enter kindergarten. . . . If your child will be six years old by Sept. 30, Virginia Law requires you to enroll your child in school.

How is this unclear? You may go if you are age 5 by September 30. You must go if you are age 6 my September 30. A child attending at age 6 is simply waiting until required to go to school instead of enrolling when first permitted to go to school. The guidelines clearly provide a two-year window and what is being called red-shirting here is within that window.


I don't really care about your redshirted kid, but you are taking VA law out of context. It is basically saying that Kindergarten is optional (not that you can start K at 5 or 6 years old - that discretion is up to the district). In VA, you can decide to skip K and enroll your kid in first grade. You are required to have them in school by age 6 (on or before Sept 30), and that generally means first grade. That's why it's called FIRST grade - K isn't required or needed.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2013 09:03     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:Being 1 - 60 days older than the kid born in October is not 365 days older thank kids in KG. I don't know why so many DCUMers have a hard time with basic math. The only redshirted kids I know were born in August or September and are 1 - 60 days older than the next child born in October. I think some are trying really hard to make their point using false numbers. I really don't understand how my September kid starting KG at the age of 5, instead of 4, is SO bad?? If my child had not been born 3 weeks early, DC would have been an October baby, anyway. FWIW, DC was ready in every aspect, we chose to wait until the age of 5 to start school. Period.


+ 1. Excellent point!
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2013 08:58     Subject: Re:This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
We got nothing out of our play based program including social-emotional. They just play. In our program, actual social skills as well as academic skills are taught.


Sounds like a program in a daycare center that does not have qualified preschool teachers. Believe me, worksheets and sitting in a desk is not appropriate for a five year old.


My child was in full time daycare and while they had plenty of play time, they did quite a bit of worksheets and sitting at a desk. That's why she's prepared for K.[/quote

And why her creativity has been irrevocably stunted. We teach to the test, try to get ahead---while study after study show play-based programs in preschool start demonstrating a clear advantage in third grade and from then on.

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2013 08:56     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
My issue with this former teacher's statement is that she wants us to stay "within the guidelines"- what guidelines? if you're 5 by 9/30 must go to school- but then you have some exceptions and then simple redshirting- so the system allowed major loose decisions before age 5 but - oh no- if you are 2 day past that date- well, we have that date for a reason. The "guidelines" should be a lot firmer on the other end to prevent this huge age discrepancy in grades.


Huh? From Arlington Public School's website:

Children who reach their fifth birthday on or before Sept. 30 may enter kindergarten. . . . If your child will be six years old by Sept. 30, Virginia Law requires you to enroll your child in school.

How is this unclear? You may go if you are age 5 by September 30. You must go if you are age 6 my September 30. A child attending at age 6 is simply waiting until required to go to school instead of enrolling when first permitted to go to school. The guidelines clearly provide a two-year window and what is being called red-shirting here is within that window.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2013 08:48     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:Redshirts have a tremendous advantage. Regret that we didn't do it. If we had had a redo we would redshirt - no question about it!!!!


My brother was redshirted. Now he's getting his PHD. So I would say the advantage may have worked in his favor.

Not sure how helpful it was to the other kids in his class who were now sitting with a much older, bigger, more mature kid who was very smart.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2013 08:45     Subject: Re:This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:
We got nothing out of our play based program including social-emotional. They just play. In our program, actual social skills as well as academic skills are taught.


Sounds like a program in a daycare center that does not have qualified preschool teachers. Believe me, worksheets and sitting in a desk is not appropriate for a five year old.


My child was in full time daycare and while they had plenty of play time, they did quite a bit of worksheets and sitting at a desk. That's why she's prepared for K.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 22:38     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Red shirting does your child no favors.

Kids learn not only from the teacher but from their peers.

Do us a favor and stay within the guidelines. They are there for a reason.

Signed,

A former teacher


This actually made me laugh. Thanks former teacher!


Made me laugh too. Of course this is not a former, present or real teacher.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 22:35     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:Red shirting does your child no favors.

Kids learn not only from the teacher but from their peers.

Do us a favor and stay within the guidelines. They are there for a reason.

Signed,

A former teacher


This actually made me laugh. Thanks former teacher!
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 22:30     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Red shirting does your child no favors.

Kids learn not only from the teacher but from their peers.

Do us a favor and stay within the guidelines. They are there for a reason.

Signed,

A former teacher


I guess during your time as a teacher you NEVER met a child who was helped by redshirting There should be no exceptions to rules because all kids are the same. Glad you are a FORMER teacher.


My issue with this former teacher's statement is that she wants us to stay "within the guidelines"- what guidelines? if you're 5 by 9/30 must go to school- but then you have some exceptions and then simple redshirting- so the system allowed major loose decisions before age 5 but - oh no- if you are 2 day past that date- well, we have that date for a reason. The "guidelines" should be a lot firmer on the other end to prevent this huge age discrepancy in grades.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 21:11     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:Red shirting does your child no favors.

Kids learn not only from the teacher but from their peers.

Do us a favor and stay within the guidelines. They are there for a reason.

Signed,

A former teacher


I guess during your time as a teacher you NEVER met a child who was helped by redshirting There should be no exceptions to rules because all kids are the same. Glad you are a FORMER teacher.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 20:39     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:Red shirting does your child no favors.

Kids learn not only from the teacher but from their peers.

Do us a favor and stay within the guidelines. They are there for a reason.

Signed,

A former teacher


How is it not "within the guidelines" to send a child at age 6 when legally required instead of at age 5 when permitted. I made my decision after specific discussions with the school counselor who took no position on the decision other than to tell me to do what I thought best for my son. Although these "red-shirting" threads love to suggest that age 6 is somehow skirting the rules, it isn't. It is a personal decision that is entirely contemplated by the rules and supported by many educators.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 20:26     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is why I love Montessori. Kids progress at their own pace in a developmentally-appropriate environment in a mixed age classroom. They can be doing long division by the time they're 6, or they can be reading chapter books, or neither or both. There is no artificial list of skills every child must have by a certain age. Then they can move to a mixed-age elementary classroom at age 6 and continue to develop on whatever path they're on. Research has shown that there is a wide range of normal in reaching academic milestones before age 9 or so, so the Montessori model best reflects the actual reality of children's cognitive development. It is a national tragedy that most schools are so out of sync with reality.


You made too much sense and everyone's brain short-circuited. Don't do that anymore, it makes people uncomfortable.


Guess so! I expected to at least get flamed for being elitist or having a kid who can't spell or write or is only good for polishing the silver at the hyper-competitive kids' houses.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 18:56     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Red shirting does your child no favors.

Kids learn not only from the teacher but from their peers.

Do us a favor and stay within the guidelines. They are there for a reason.

Signed,

A former teacher
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 18:11     Subject: This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
How about making sure kindergarten is age-appropriate for five-year-olds, and making sure parents know that?

Also, if we're doing away with appeals, can we get rid of them for FCPS's AAP centers? I mean, if there are no special cases, let's extend that to every aspect of education.
Anonymous
Post 08/27/2013 17:37     Subject: Re:This age discrepancy due to "redshirting" is ridiculous
Anonymous wrote:So in your world, we should move the date back and anyone can still redshirt but no one can start ahead? Tell that to the Montgomery County families who test in Sept. and Oct. They have flexibility on both sides of their cutoff which is what is missing with FCPS.

This would be ideal.