I need help making a Kindergarten decision

[hmacmahony]

Reading has NOTHING to do with being ready for kindergarten! I had one go into kindergarten (redshirted), reading chapter books. I had my next go into kindergarten (oh, also redshirted), not knowing any site words at all. Same family, different learning styles. Reading has very little do with kindergarten readyness.

If someone asks for extra help, SO WHAT!! Seriously are you that scared that and extra ditto sent home is going to take that much time away from your child???

Academics were at the bottom of the list when we decided to redshirt our kids, kindergarten was at the bottom of our list. We thought ahead, to my just turning 17 year old going off to college!!

There are NOT laws in place. There are suggested cutoff dates, and our state law is A CHILD MUST BE IN SCHOOL BY 7. We did not break any laws by keeping our child back a year. They were in 1 grade when they turned 7.

Oh, and the whole, I am no better than anyone else if I redshirted my child, please let me lean over and VOMIT all over my shoes. YOU raise your kid, I will raise mine. If you don't want your child redshirted, DON'T. But, don't complain when someone else does, they have every right to make that choice for THEIR child. My husband and I had MANY valid reasons for redshirting our children, we talked to the school, the principal, the teachers, high school teachers, even looked at the work they would be doing, and every single teacher said...REDSHIRT!! Even the higher grade teachers!

Could my kids of done fine in kindergarten, sure I am sure they could of. But, we weren't worried about how they would do in kindergarten.

By the way, its proven over and over and over and over....
Kids even out and by 3 grade and land where they are going to land academically. Over and over studys show, kids with that preschool edge loose that edge by 3 grade, kids who were redshirted loose that edge by 3 grade (or around that age, because we all know nothing is 100%).

That is why I said i would do whatever it takes for my child - if my child struggles I would do whatever it takes. That said, I TOTALLY still think that all children in a classroom (both my child and yours) deserve an EQUAL playing field when starting on day 1. That, to me, includes every child being within 12 months age of each other. At that time, if my child struggled or whatever - I would hold her back, get her extra help or whatever it would take to help her. And people who fall into this category are not the ones who I know who have redshirted - these are the people who have said 'I KNOW they're good with the academics - he/she's practically reading - but I just don't think they're ready'.

The majority of my gripe is when people redshirt AND THEN ASK FOR EXTRA ENRICHMENT...for a child who, if you TRULY wanted him/her enriched, you COULD HAVE SENT the year before and they would be enriched by doing 1st grade work right now. These are the ones who 'take away' from the rest of the kids in the class. And these are the ones who add numbers to the high end of the curve and force the teacher to do way more than they would have in a natural classroom. If you have a child who is way behind...and struggles academically, and wouldn't act like a 1st grader anyway - honestly it doesn't bother me in the least.

There are already laws in place for this (thus I can't get people thinking that the government will control their family and child - they ALREADY do) - I just think it should be expanded to cover K - or if K still isn't mandatory- just test the older child and move them into 1st when he/she starts school if they are ready for that level by then - skipping K.

And many people are talking about a 'majority' of kids - I've read through most of the posts and I haven't seen anyone talk about the majority of the class. But the percentages in many areas ARE statistically significant.

Yes, my child is the youngest in her class - and she was ready for K - a very average 4 year old in every way. Knew her letters but was NOT reading. And even though she was fine to attend - I still had to question that decision. NOT because of the kids 10 - 12 months older than she was - but for the ones 15 - 18 months older. I did struggle with it ONLY BECAUSE OF REDSHIRTING ITSELF> It perpetuates itself becasue of this. I did send her on time, not wanting to perpetuate it - would she have been highest in her class maturity and academics-wise had I held her back - MOST LIKELY YES!! So, yes, it was tempting. But honestly I couldn't do it as a parent 'holding her back' was just that in my eyes - preventing her from achieving her potential this last year. And...I had to draw the line somewhere - SOMEONE has to be the youngest - I figure I'm no better than anyone else so it might as well be my kid. Honestly, I would have STRUGGLED if she did need extra enrichment if I held her back because it would have been MY FAULT - not the school's that she wasn't getting 1st grade level enrichment. Something I CHOSE to do - I would struggle with asking/insisting them to remedy. So for all of these reasons - I sent her on time.

And honestly it SHOULD have been a no -brainer. But unfortunately today because of redshirting, even no-brainer decisions like mine become complicated. Maybe someday it will be legislated out of our hands - I can always hope!

 

[Leajess99]

So I wasn't going to comment on this thread, being a 3rd grade teacher and having strong feelings about red shirting made me not want to be part of this discussion, but I read this and I'm bewildered by it.
You have spent this entire thread complaining about older kids in your daughters Kindergarten class. That people shouldn't red shirt as it is unfair to your child because they are older. Then here you say you would have started her earlier and have sent her with ALL children who are much older then her, if you could have. If that is truly the case, then you wouldn't be SO upset that your child is "in the middle" of the pack. It seems you need to make up your mind whether having older kids in the class is such a detriment or if you wanted her with older kids.

OP, as a teacher I just wanted to say, good for you! We do not have enough parents that really listen to their own kids needs. We see kids way too often that should have waited. The kids struggle to keep up with the class. More often then not the children who are the biggest disruption to a class are the younger set. They feel younger and have a more difficult time fitting in. This is especially true with boys. If you feel that your child isn't ready then as someone else said, it's a no brainer. Don't listen to all the static about, well this isn't fair to MY child. There will always be "those" parents who want to blame their child having a difficult time in school on some one else. You need to only do whats best for your child, and it sounds like you have a good understanding of what your child needs. I wish him the best of luck

My child has no difficulties in school other than having her learning disrupted in her kindergarten class by the teachers' kids that were redshirted and became disruptions. So yes, I can blame the teachers who chose to wait to send their kids for my child and the children truely supposed to be in Kindergarten last year having their learning disrupted. My daughter was in the GT Talent pool last year as well as this year. My daughter loves learning but every single day she came home telling of what teachers' kids were in trouble for what.

My daughter is in a different school now where the teachers discourage the redshirting as they are well equipped to teach the younger, supposed to be in kindergarten kids.

 

[tartemis]

There are a few states where K is mandatory. It isn;t here, but I do think kids benefit greatly from attending K. I don;t think there would be any benefit to homeschooling K unless you planned to homeschool the rest of the primary years. I would also think if they aren't ready for K until the next year they certainly wouldn't be ready for 1st instead. then what was the point on waiting for k?
For us, the correct peer group for my child is not starting him this year. He will be about a year younger then a majority of the kids. I am doing the best I can to keep him with his peers.

You say it isn't about age, but you keep bringing up the fact that he will "be about a year younger than a majority of the kids." And how could that even be true? If everyone is entering K when they should (and not being redshirted) than your child (if born immediately before the cut-off) could be almost a year behind the oldest students, but should be closer to 6 months younger than "the majority" of students and only a few months younger than the other kids born in the summer.

And if is true that the majority of the kids would be a year older than your kid, then that is a result of redshirting -- which is exactly the problem that you are contributing to.

Look, if your kid has some sort of learning disability or other significant problem -- sure, redshirt him. But the VAST majority of kids being held back are not in that category. The parents just don't want their child to be one of the youngest, and so they just push that back onto another category of children.

And as a result of people like you, my August born child (with a September 1 cutoff) is likely to be 18 months or even more younger than the oldest kid in the class. My child is a genius (LOL!) and very tall, so she will be fine. But what about your more "average" kids -- how does that set of a good learning environment to have K (or 1st or 2nd, whatever) now span 18 months (if spring babies are being held back) or greater instead of 12 months?

 

[Leajess99]

Is holding a child back like this a relatively new practice? I never had anyone in my classes growing up that was more than a few months older or younger than I, unless they had been held back a year later than K-5 for academic reasons.

DH, DBrother and I are early August, July and June b'days respectively. We all started school just after turning 5. We all graduated at 17. DH went into the Marines and 6 years later college. DB and I both graduated from college at 21 and I had a master's degree at 22. All three of us graduated in the top 3% of our classes and non of us really struggled at any time, even in challenging private schools.

I would not have felt right about holding my son back from an academic perspective as he was 5.5 when he started K-5 because he already knew his numbers, letters a ton of sight words and could read very simple books. On the other hand, he is shy, clingy and still kind of a cry baby even at 6 years and a few months. Sorry, but even with the minor emotional issues we have deal with this year as a result of his social immaturity, he has been more than ready to handle the curriculum, including the computer and Spanish classes he takes. If I had held him back a year, the curriculum would have been completely inappropriate to his academic development. And this was an IUGR baby who has some minor developmental issues and even now looks like a Pre-K4 student.

I understand a lot of people's concerns about their children, but K-5 curriculum is designed for that age group and not children that have been held back a year and who have (hopefully) continued to learn new academic concepts.

Not a new concept just done more by the upper middle class in more affluent areas according to most of the research I have found. I never even considered holding my summer baby back as she was bored in Preschool and the teacher had her trying to help other kids learn to write their name and such. She is an emotional kid as well but holding her back won't cure that nor will it fix the immaturity.

 

[princessmom29]

My child has no difficulties in school other than having her learning disrupted in her kindergarten class by the teachers' kids that were redshirted and became disruptions. So yes, I can blame the teachers who chose to wait to send their kids for my child and the children truely supposed to be in Kindergarten last year having their learning disrupted. My daughter was in the GT Talent pool last year as well as this year. My daughter loves learning but every single day she came home telling of what teachers' kids were in trouble for what.

My daughter is in a different school now where the teachers discourage the redshirting as they are well equipped to teach the younger, supposed to be in kindergarten kids.

bingo! This is exactly what we are dealing with as well. Kids who should be in 1st making it hard for the teachers to teach those who really belong in K. I am sure many here would say that if they were good eonough teachers it wouldn't be a problem and it must be the teacher's fault, but there is a limit on what one person can do, and they are severely pushing it.

 

[Leajess99]

I was so going to stay out of this, I really was. We leave in a few hours for the happiest place on earth...but
I have to call you out.
There is NO WAY YOU WOULD sacrifice your child for the good of the whole, if you really felt they needed an extra year! NO WAY!! And for you to claim you would is just plain silly.
I think every teacher would be thrilled if the parents concentrated SOLELY on their childs needs, thats MY concern....MY CHILD!!! I don't really give a darn how the rest of the class does, I care about MY child, and HER future.
I have said it a million times WE HAVE NEVER TALKED TO A TEACHER WHO SAID 'REDSHIRTING" is bad...EVER!! And we did extensive research on this topic.
And, you can find evidence for anything you want.
We found much evidence to show that the younger a child is when they start K, the more likely they are to drop out, to do drugs, to drink, have sex, not go onto college, even suicide.
I understand the way statistics work, I understand with the internet you can find sites to back up anything you want, so in the end we went with real life experience. Once again, not a single teacher we talked to had a bad thing to say about redshirting, all were very pro redshirting!! As a matter of fact, most teachers said they wished MORE parents would do this, because our kindergarten is VERY academic, and many young kids just can't keep up with the program.
If my child has had the same amount of preschool as your child, just because their birthday is a few weeks before the cutoff, how does that make them so much more ahead???? Most parents who redshirt, know this before they even start kindergarten, and they adjust preschool as well.
Glad your kid is doing fine, find it amazing YOU would find a way to solve her problems by whatever it takes. BUT WHEN people solve their problems, and its NOT the way you think it should be solved, you complain that its unfair to YOUR child, and we weren't thinking about the good of the class.

Oh, and I have pointed out this as well, our state is CHANGING the cutoff date, so kids MUST be 5 when school starts (sept 1 will be the new cutoff). So, as far as I am concerned, my redshirting MY kids is 100% valid, considering the state feels the same way I do.

I'm sorry but the bolded is crap. It is more likely for a redshirted child (Per research done by many groups) to drop out as they can generally drop out earlier than non redshirted kids can. Provide documentation to support your claim of the drugs, sex etc because I want to see it. Support your arguement!!!! So you are trying to say that because my daughter started school on time and is and has always been one of the youngest, she is more likely to do drugs, have sex, ect?? That is so bogus and you just blew your whole credibility with that.

 

[hmacmahony]

When talking to our teachers, they seem to have the biggest problem in our district with kids who start at 4, and cry half the year when mommy leaves. We have half day kindergarten too. We have 4 kids who are still crying, every day,and the school year is almost over, all have very late birthdays.

I find it hard to believe ALL kids who are redshirted are behavior problems, because I know in my daughters class, there were 13 redshirted kids (over 100 kids in the class), none are behavior issues. 9 of them are also GIRLS!!! Go figure, out school must kill every statistic you can find!

bingo! This is exactly what we are dealing with as well. Kids who should be in 1st making it hard for the teachers to teach those who really belong in K. I am sure many here would say that if they were good eonough teachers it wouldn't be a problem and it must be the teacher's fault, but there is a limit on what one person can do, and they are severely pushing it.

 

[Leajess99]

I hate to correct your math but 2 kids out of 15 being older then the rest of the class is no where near 50% of the class. As you've said the rest of the class has already turned 6, so the rest are all the same age group.
I do find it quite interesting that you know all the birthdays of the kids in your daughters class. You must spend a lot of time asking questions.

I have never heard that as a reason to red shirt, and I've been doing this for 14 years.In those 14years I have yet to have a student come through my doors with complete knowledge of the years material. Even those that could read already got something out of their time with me. I never had to struggle to keep them engaged. But, on the other hand the kids that are a year younger then the rest do have a problem staying engaged because they aren't ready.

You know some schools and teachers have the birthdays posted. Guess that is beyond your comprehension. I am one parent who would surely not want you for my child's teacher just based off your constant putting down of kids with late birthdays. My daughter would put you to shame.

 

[hmacmahony]

Would love to spend the time to find my research, but am really leaving in about 30 mintues for the airport, for a week at disney. But, when I get back I will more than happily send it to you.

Where has all your evidence that its more likely for a redshirted kid to drop out because they can? First MOST redshirted kids come from upper middle class familys, where the drop out level is VERY LOW! So, you just lost your credibility with that.

Do you know how stats work? Just because there is a stastic it doesn't mean your child will do it? You realize that right???

I'm sorry but the bolded is crap. It is more likely for a redshirted child (Per research done by many groups) to drop out as they can generally drop out earlier than non redshirted kids can. Provide documentation to support your claim of the drugs, sex etc because I want to see it. Support your arguement!!!! So you are trying to say that because my daughter started school on time and is and has always been one of the youngest, she is more likely to do drugs, have sex, ect?? That is so bogus and you just blew your whole credibility with that.

 

[lpereira]

I didn't read through the entire thread so I don't know if anyone else posted this. There is actually a term for it now. It's called red shirting ( from college football practice of red shirting freshman players) There is more to school than just chronological age and mental readiness. Depending on the needs of your child- it may be in his best interests to repeat a year now. School doesn't get any easier as your child gets older and that year spent now may help him later socially and academically. The age cutoff is so early that kids, like my daughter, could end up being younger than most of her classroom peers.He will still graduate "on time" at 18.

 

[Leajess99]

It had nothing to do with age. The majority red short their kids in K so that they can start K when they are ready. Now when you start talking about highschool aged kids redshirting, thats when you talk about keeping kids back so they can be older and bigger.
I don't see why, as a a woman, you would be offended that a 5yo wasn't ready for K yet. That seems so bizarre to me. Seriously, these 5 yos aren't trying to take your jobs, lol.
Of course you can "rainbow down",,,but I still don;t see why I would send my chidl to school when he isn't ready.
I'm sorry but it's a ridiculous statement to say that by me having my child wait until he is ready for school, that I am created a self centered child. Pure ridiculousness. My child was born 3 days before the cut off date, yes it would be tough for him to start school a year younger then the rest of the class. As a parent you make decisons based on what is best for your child everyday. If you arent' then you're not doing your job.

Okay so what if he is not ready next year?? This is where the problem goes is that parents decide when their kids are ready to go. Hence the 8 year old in 1st grade. Leaving it up to parents to decide without proper testing is ridiculous and causing the issues. The school my mom worked out for so many years tested every kindergartener at registration and it was a public school. School districts are turning to summer camp programs for kindergateners to help them with adjusting and being ready and it is working around here.

 

[brymolmom]

Reading has NOTHING to do with being ready for kindergarten! I had one go into kindergarten (redshirted), reading chapter books. I had my next go into kindergarten (oh, also redshirted), not knowing any site words at all. Same family, different learning styles. Reading has very little do with kindergarten readyness.

If someone asks for extra help, SO WHAT!! Seriously are you that scared that and extra ditto sent home is going to take that much time away from your child???

Academics were at the bottom of the list when we decided to redshirt our kids, kindergarten was at the bottom of our list. We thought ahead, to my just turning 17 year old going off to college!!

There are NOT laws in place. There are suggested cutoff dates, and our state law is A CHILD MUST BE IN SCHOOL BY 7. We did not break any laws by keeping our child back a year. They were in 1 grade when they turned 7.

And OF COURSE educators and others will ALWAYS recommend redshirting (except in rare cases) - they are Covering their butts. At the first sign of struggle for any student - the obvious and easy place to point a finger is at their age - thus it would be 'their fault' for telling you to send your child (who, MORE than likely, would be fine) at a younger age. Also - with educators - they OBVIOUSLY prefer older kids...for testing purposes, etc. Of course I had teachers say 'well you could hold her a year' about my dd. But then that would have just handed over being the youngest in the class to someone else. I did not want to pass that buck.

Oh, and the whole, I am no better than anyone else if I redshirted my child, please let me lean over and VOMIT all over my shoes. YOU raise your kid, I will raise mine. If you don't want your child redshirted, DON'T. But, don't complain when someone else does, they have every right to make that choice for THEIR child. My husband and I had MANY valid reasons for redshirting our children, we talked to the school, the principal, the teachers, high school teachers, even looked at the work they would be doing, and every single teacher said...REDSHIRT!! Even the higher grade teachers!

Could my kids of done fine in kindergarten, sure I am sure they could of. But, we weren't worried about how they would do in kindergarten.

By the way, its proven over and over and over and over....
Kids even out and by 3 grade and land where they are going to land academically. Over and over studys show, kids with that preschool edge loose that edge by 3 grade, kids who were redshirted loose that edge by 3 grade (or around that age, because we all know nothing is 100%).

Extra help - I don't mind. Extra enrichment...well that ship sailed when you chose the easier curriculum for your child by holding them back. Like I said - as long as academics are at the bottom of your list - and you don't mind or ask for your child to be taught anything above and beyond the Kindergarten curriculum, then fine. If you really wanted 1st grade challenges - you have already opted against it.

And WHY do you think the law exists so that kids are in school by age 7???? It is to KEEP THE KIDS AT BASICALLY THE SAME AGE WHEN THEY ENTER SCHOOL. These laws were written BEFORE Kindergarten became the norm across the country. The laws just need to keep up with the rest of the system now by putting in place a LAW that specifies an age for Kindergarten.

 

[Leajess99]

When talking to our teachers, they seem to have the biggest problem in our district with kids who start at 4, and cry half the year when mommy leaves. We have half day kindergarten too. We have 4 kids who are still crying, every day,and the school year is almost over, all have very late birthdays.

I find it hard to believe ALL kids who are redshirted are behavior problems, because I know in my daughters class, there were 13 redshirted kids (over 100 kids in the class), none are behavior issues. 9 of them are also GIRLS!!! Go figure, out school must kill every statistic you can find!

There are 100 kids in your daughter's kindergarten class?? Quite amazing and what do they use a college auditorium to hold class?? Also, please explain the older kids that also cry the whole school year when mom leaves them?? I know my daughter had them in preschool and kindergarten. Heck one was even one of the teacher's kids at the school. She would cry for her mom daily. No clue if that has since changed since we moved schools and redshirting is discouraged by the teachers as they are prepared to properly teach and challenge the younger kids who are supposed to be in kindergarten and that. I don't think there is a single redshirted child in my daughter's class now or at least prior to all the new kids there weren't.

 

[Leajess99]

Would love to spend the time to find my research, but am really leaving in about 30 mintues for the airport, for a week at disney. But, when I get back I will more than happily send it to you.

Where has all your evidence that its more likely for a redshirted kid to drop out because they can? First MOST redshirted kids come from upper middle class familys, where the drop out level is VERY LOW! So, you just lost your credibility with that.

Do you know how stats work? Just because there is a stastic it doesn't mean your child will do it? You realize that right???

Go back and reread already posted information.

 

[jellybeans0607]

You say it isn't about age, but you keep bringing up the fact that he will "be about a year younger than a majority of the kids." And how could that even be true? If everyone is entering K when they should (and not being redshirted) than your child (if born immediately before the cut-off) could be almost a year behind the oldest students, but should be closer to 6 months younger than "the majority" of students and only a few months younger than the other kids born in the summer.

And if is true that the majority of the kids would be a year older than your kid, then that is a result of redshirting -- which is exactly the problem that you are contributing to.

Look, if your kid has some sort of learning disability or other significant problem -- sure, redshirt him. But the VAST majority of kids being held back are not in that category. The parents just don't want their child to be one of the youngest, and so they just push that back onto another category of children.

And as a result of people like you, my August born child (with a September 1 cutoff) is likely to be 18 months or even more younger than the oldest kid in the class. My child is a genius (LOL!) and very tall, so she will be fine. But what about your more "average" kids -- how does that set of a good learning environment to have K (or 1st or 2nd, whatever) now span 18 months (if spring babies are being held back) or greater instead of 12 months?

sorry

 

[jellybeans0607]

My child has no difficulties in school other than having her learning disrupted in her kindergarten class by the teachers' kids that were redshirted and became disruptions. So yes, I can blame the teachers who chose to wait to send their kids for my child and the children truely supposed to be in Kindergarten last year having their learning disrupted. My daughter was in the GT Talent pool last year as well as this year. My daughter loves learning but every single day she came home telling of what teachers' kids were in trouble for what.

My daughter is in a different school now where the teachers discourage the redshirting as they are well equipped to teach the younger, supposed to be in kindergarten kids.

Hmm...guilty conscience I guess....not sure why you thought I was calling you one of "those"parents. Guess it's true that "they" know who they are.

As a teacher I can promise you that class disruptions are not unique to red shirted kids...thats absolutely laughable.

 

[imthatgirl]

Okay so what if he is not ready next year?? This is where the problem goes is that parents decide when their kids are ready to go. Hence the 8 year old in 1st grade. Leaving it up to parents to decide without proper testing is ridiculous and causing the issues. The school my mom worked out for so many years tested every kindergartener at registration and it was a public school. School districts are turning to summer camp programs for kindergateners to help them with adjusting and being ready and it is working around here.

Of course they test the kids coming in to K...but they don't test the ones that aren't coming in yet. So I don't really know what that ahs to do with red shirting...but ok.

 

[princessmom29]

When talking to our teachers, they seem to have the biggest problem in our district with kids who start at 4, and cry half the year when mommy leaves. We have half day kindergarten too. We have 4 kids who are still crying, every day,and the school year is almost over, all have very late birthdays.

I find it hard to believe ALL kids who are redshirted are behavior problems, because I know in my daughters class, there were 13 redshirted kids (over 100 kids in the class), none are behavior issues. 9 of them are also GIRLS!!! Go figure, out school must kill every statistic you can find!

Not quoting stats at all, just reporting what our teachers are asying. By and large we don't have the crying for Mommy problem (thank goodness) becuase these kids have been in preschool for 2 years prior. They know the drill by now. As a matter of fact the only child I have seen crying for Mommy is one of those redshirted one year. She is just and extremely clingy child, and her Mom feeds into that. Honestly, having worked daycare/ preschool for the vast majority of children of any age if they had seperation problems beyond the first month or so it had more to do with the parent than the child. I know people wil lcontardict this all over the place but it was what I observed over the course of 4 years. There were a few that had seperation issues in thier own right, but for most of them it was because Mommy fed into the drama. I have had moms admit to me that it made them feel needed and loved that their children cried when they left, and they would worry that they were not a good mom if they didn't.

Not ALL redshirted kids are behavior problems, but most of the problems in the 5 K classes at our school stem from those few kids that are vastly older than the rest. They are acting out because they don't relate well to the younger ones.

 

[imthatgirl]

You say it isn't about age, but you keep bringing up the fact that he will "be about a year younger than a majority of the kids." And how could that even be true? If everyone is entering K when they should (and not being redshirted) than your child (if born immediately before the cut-off) could be almost a year behind the oldest students, but should be closer to 6 months younger than "the majority" of students and only a few months younger than the other kids born in the summer.

And if is true that the majority of the kids would be a year older than your kid, then that is a result of redshirting -- which is exactly the problem that you are contributing to.

Look, if your kid has some sort of learning disability or other significant problem -- sure, redshirt him. But the VAST majority of kids being held back are not in that category. The parents just don't want their child to be one of the youngest, and so they just push that back onto another category of children.

And as a result of people like you, my August born child (with a September 1 cutoff) is likely to be 18 months or even more younger than the oldest kid in the class. My child is a genius (LOL!) and very tall, so she will be fine. But what about your more "average" kids -- how does that set of a good learning environment to have K (or 1st or 2nd, whatever) now span 18 months (if spring babies are being held back) or greater instead of 12 months?

It's not about age or I would have waited on my other 2 kids. I didn't because they were ready. My third child isn't ready, so he'll wait. He is almost a year younger then most of the kids going to K this coming september...I stated that as a fact, because it is. I never stated it as the only reason for waiting. Having that extra year is important for my son, and I;m sorry but just because that upsets YOU, doesn't mean I will even consider changing my mind.

Insulting a 4yo by implying he is disabled because he isn't starting K at the same time your child did, just makes you look like a mean, childish person. Seriously...who does that?

Now I know theres a new math and some people have a hard time with it...but I don;t think even with new math that 3 days equals 6 months. But I never claimed to be a teacher.

 

[jellybeans0607]

Insulting a 4yo by implying he is disabled because he isn't starting K at the same time your child did, just makes you look like a mean, childish person. Seriously...who does that?

I saw that too, man some people just have no class