TOTALLY GEEKED!

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

RE: Valedictorian barred from graduation

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
People love to tear down the successful LL.

I was 18.5 when I graduated and I started kindergarten as soon as I was allowed and never got held back. How is being 19 a 2 year advantage?

FNW · Guru

I has to do with my boys competing for everything against kids who are 2 years older. That's two more years of development.

FNW · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
People love to tear down the successful LL.
I was 18.5 when I graduated and I started kindergarten as soon as I was allowed and never got held back. How is being 19 a 2 year advantage?

If you were 18.5 then you didn't start kindergarten as soon as you were allowed. Or you did and re-did a year. Being 19 vs. 17 is 2 years, BTW. I know we lawyers don't excel in math.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
I has to do with my boys competing for everything against kids who are 2 years older. That's two more years of development.

Wow. This is ridiculous. The law allows kids to start school anytime up to 7. If you choose to start yours sooner than others - that's YOUR choice, other parents have the right to make their own choices regarding thier kids.

But I seriously doubt it matters. This kid is smarter than anybody here, and likely anybody in his school, including the teachers - and his age has nothing to do with it. THAT is why people want to tear him down. Petty jealousy.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
People love to tear down the successful LL.
I was 18.5 when I graduated and I started kindergarten as soon as I was allowed and never got held back. How is being 19 a 2 year advantage?
If you were 18.5 then you didn't start kindergarten as soon as you were allowed. Or you did and re-did a year. Being 19 vs. 17 is 2 years, BTW. I know we lawyers don't excel in math.

Bull fvcking ****. It takes THIRTEEN years to get through school. 5+13 is 18. That's basic math. My birthday fell 26 days after the deadline for turning 5 to start kindergarten. You are the one that needs help with math.

FNW · Guru

Whatever you say.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
I has to do with my boys competing for everything against kids who are 2 years older. That's two more years of development.

Well, then maybe you should have held them back. I started at 4. I was the Salutatorian and also the top female athlete in my school and set school records in basketball. Sooo, not sure what to tell you.

DemoniaD · Senior Member

Lawyerlady wrote:
DemoniaD wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
DemoniaD wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
DemoniaD wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
DemoniaD wrote:
Well by all means, he got the grades, so who cares if he is the best candidate to deliver the speech? Heaven forbid we break tradition, and try to find the best qualified. We wouldn't want to hurt his feelings honoring him by recognizing only his academic achievements at the ceremony.

He "earned" it. We used to have a thing about "earning" something. Remember?
He earned his grades. He earned the recognition for those grades. No one is taking away the honor of that. How exactly does getting the best grades make one most deserving of speaking? Because that's just how it's always done? Giving it for the sake of tradition isn't exactly earning it.
It's part of the "honor" of being Valedictorian. I can't help you if you can't understand that.
So tradition is how he earned it then. Got it.
And, the problem with tradition is WHAT exactly?
That, in this case, the "reward" (speaking) it wasn't actually earned. The school puts on the ceremony for the entire graduating class. If they wish to bestow the honor of speaking on the honor student with minimal disciplinary infractions, and is best suited for speaking, what is the problem with that? What exactly is wrong with bestowing an honor on the most deserving based on merits and not traditions?
Yes, it is earned. The valectorian speaks at gradution because they earn the position of being the valedictorian. Valedictorian is chosen by the highest grades - always has been.
And if the school is going to change that - don't change it the week before graduation just because you don't like who earned the traditional honor.

It was 19 days, but if the school really made no mention of the new policy before then, changing the rules at the last minute isn't right. I can agree on that point.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
I has to do with my boys competing for everything against kids who are 2 years older. That's two more years of development.

The playing field is the same. Same school work, same teachers over YEARS. But, if you want to invent something to Whine about, then have at it.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Seriously, whining because some kids were older when starting? Um, in case you havent' noticed, that no matter what you do in life, there is someone who is the youngest and someone who is the oldest. OH freaking well!

FNW · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
I has to do with my boys competing for everything against kids who are 2 years older. That's two more years of development.
Well, then maybe you should have held them back. I started at 4. I was the Salutatorian and also the top female athlete in my school and set school records in basketball. Sooo, not sure what to tell you.

I was 4 as well and the administration was constantly trying to make me skip a grade because I was more advanced than those in my grade. They wanted to put me in the honors program, but I didn't want to leave my friends (I would have to go to a different school). But back then, if you were older, it was because you were held behind. Parents didn't red shirt back then. This seems to be a new "thing", more common with boys whose parents are more concerned with raising an athlete than a scholar. Or parents who don't think their child is ready emotionally. I've seen a lot of it with the kids my boys attending pre-school with.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
I has to do with my boys competing for everything against kids who are 2 years older. That's two more years of development.
Well, then maybe you should have held them back. I started at 4. I was the Salutatorian and also the top female athlete in my school and set school records in basketball. Sooo, not sure what to tell you.
I was 4 as well and the administration was constantly trying to make me skip a grade because I was more advanced than those in my grade. They wanted to put me in the honors program, but I didn't want to leave my friends (I would have to go to a different school). But back then, if you were older, it was because you were held behind. Parents didn't red shirt back then. This seems to be a new "thing", more common with boys whose parents are more concerned with raising an athlete than a scholar. Or parents who don't think their child is ready emotionally. I've seen a lot of it with the kids my boys attending pre-school with.

Again. So what?

FNW · Guru

Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.

Ohfour · Hooker

IF I had graduated. I would have been 18.5. Here, you have to be 5 by September 1st. So there are a lot of kids that are 18 years 8 months when they graduate. 17 is not the norm here...

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.

And your high school GPA isn't based on your 1st grade work - so your argument is invalid.

And nobody should be starting kindergarten at age 4. If you do that, that's completely on you.

DemoniaD · Senior Member

I don't think being 19 at graduation is really an advantage either, particularly when it is like he recently turned 19. Maybe his parents delayed school for a year. He would still be learning everything at the same time as the rest of his classmates. Maybe he did get held back in elementary school. He still learned the subjects in high school at the same time as the rest of the students. When I was a kid, transitional 1st (T-1) was a big thing. It was to serve as a stepping stone from K to 1st for those that weren't "ready", making them have 14 school years as opposed to 13. They still learned the material at the same time as the other students. I think I am missing what advantage that gave them? If nothing else, I think going from being a kid who was held back to a top achiever in high school is a pretty awesome feat. It's not like they had two shots at one of the high school grades. If it was one of those 4 repeated, no way would they have a 4.0 let alone better.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
And your high school GPA isn't based on your 1st grade work - so your argument is invalid.
And nobody should be starting kindergarten at age 4. If you do that, that's completely on you.

Exactly. What does Kindergarten have to do with Valedictorian? NOTHING.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.

If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Ohfour wrote:
IF I had graduated. I would have been 18.5. Here, you have to be 5 by September 1st. So there are a lot of kids that are 18 years 8 months when they graduate. 17 is not the norm here...

Seventeen is not the norm anywhere these days - because you have to be 5 in September almost everywhere. When I started school - you had until December 5 to turn 5, and my birthday isn't until the end of December (born in 1970) so I didn't get to start school until fall of 1976 - count forward and that equals 18.5 when I graduated in June of 1989, starting at age 5 and never being held back.

FNW · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
IF I had graduated. I would have been 18.5. Here, you have to be 5 by September 1st. So there are a lot of kids that are 18 years 8 months when they graduate. 17 is not the norm here...

Here's it's 09/30. But when I was growing up, it was 11/30, so I started kindergarten at age 4. Most of us did. My boys were 5 yrs. 3 months. And they were more than ready. They will be 17 when they graduate, provided the school year does not get extended due to too many snow days. Based on the age of their classmates, some will probably be buying them beer.

msrock · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
How does one achieve a 4.3? I thought 4.0 was straight A's. Or 4's as our school system is on the number system.

Because an A in Honor's classes are worth 5 points. I graduated with a 4.19.

FNW · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.

Just because everyone else is jumping off bridges doesn't mean we should.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

I don't remember my GPA from high school or how old I was when I graduated...

flan

FNW · Guru

msrock wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
How does one achieve a 4.3? I thought 4.0 was straight A's. Or 4's as our school system is on the number system.
Because an A in Honor's classes are worth 5 points. I graduated with a 4.19.

Okay. A lot has changed since I was in school, apparently. We didn't get added points for honors' classes.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
Just because everyone else is jumping off bridges doesn't mean we should.

The rest of us aren't whining about "unfair advantages" of people who jump off bridges as are you.

Ohfour · Hooker

I think we are all about the same age, FNW.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
IF I had graduated. I would have been 18.5. Here, you have to be 5 by September 1st. So there are a lot of kids that are 18 years 8 months when they graduate. 17 is not the norm here...
Here's it's 09/30. But when I was growing up, it was 11/30, so I started kindergarten at age 4. Most of us did. My boys were 5 yrs. 3 months. And they were more than ready. They will be 17 when they graduate, provided the school year does not get extended due to too many snow days. Based on the age of their classmates, some will probably be buying them beer.

The ones who turned 5 before November 30th. So, having a later birthday gives kids an advantage? If that's the case, then parents should plan their births better.

FNW · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.

What is upsetting to me are the parents who hold their children back.

FNW · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
Just because everyone else is jumping off bridges doesn't mean we should.
The rest of us aren't whining about "unfair advantages" of people who jump off bridges as are you.

Says the woman who held her kids back.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
What is upsetting to me are the parents who hold their children back.

Why? They aren't YOUR children. Why is that any of your business?

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
msrock wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
How does one achieve a 4.3? I thought 4.0 was straight A's. Or 4's as our school system is on the number system.
Because an A in Honor's classes are worth 5 points. I graduated with a 4.19.
Okay. A lot has changed since I was in school, apparently. We didn't get added points for honors' classes.

We didn't have honors classes in high school - now they have high school students taking college courses in high school, and those are wieghted higher.

msrock · Guru

FNW wrote:
msrock wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Parents "wait" a year when they think their child is not ready. Behind. Here, they must turn 5 by the end of September to start kindergarten. Parents were holding their snowflakes back until they were 7, so schools had to put an age limit. Must attend if they are 6. It got ridiculous. Red-shirting is what they call it. I call it being slow.

Let's say he's not slow. That there was another reason for holding him back, then he has a 2 year unfair advantage over his peers. That's tantamount to high schoolers vs. college age students competing for high school grades and accolades.

Sure, he has been accepted into Ivy League schools. But he also is of an ethnicity which enables these schools to meet their affirmative action quota. Not saying that is how he is getting in, but it's a consideration.
And his 4.3 GPA has nothing to do with it? Are you kidding me?
How does one achieve a 4.3? I thought 4.0 was straight A's. Or 4's as our school system is on the number system.
Because an A in Honor's classes are worth 5 points. I graduated with a 4.19.
Okay. A lot has changed since I was in school, apparently. We didn't get added points for honors' classes.

I graduated in 1985. 3rd in my class. As a matter of fact, I went to my 30 year reunion last weekend. aww

eta: My birthday is the first week of September, so I also started when I was 4 and graduated at 17.

-- Edited by msrock on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 09:45:02 AM

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
Just because everyone else is jumping off bridges doesn't mean we should.
The rest of us aren't whining about "unfair advantages" of people who jump off bridges as are you.
Says the woman who held her kids back.

Huh? What are you talking about? I didn't hold my kids back. They started as soon as they were eligible. What are you talking about? Are you OK? Sheesh.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

My kids started at 5 just like every other kid so not really sure where you are getting your information. You seem to be making things up now which is quite bizarre.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I was wondering where she was getting that, LGS. I went back to read the thread again to see if I missed something, LOL!

But people have serious problems if they think their kids are at a disadvantage b/c they are a few months younger than their classmates.

FNW · Guru

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
Just because everyone else is jumping off bridges doesn't mean we should.
The rest of us aren't whining about "unfair advantages" of people who jump off bridges as are you.
Says the woman who held her kids back.
Huh? What are you talking about? I didn't hold my kids back. They started as soon as they were eligible. What are you talking about? Are you OK? Sheesh.

Sorry, I misspoke. I confused you with someone else who red-shirted their kids.

FNW · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
I was wondering where she was getting that, LGS. I went back to read the thread again to see if I missed something, LOL!

But people have serious problems if they think their kids are at a disadvantage b/c they are a few months younger than their classmates.

2 years is not a few months.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
What is upsetting to me are the parents who hold their children back.

Why would this upset you? School is not a competition. If parents think thier child is not ready - that should be up to them to decide.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

Some schools don't weigh honors classes to 5 but Advanced Placement classes are weighted instead. They are worth 5 points and honors classes are worth 4.5. Depends on the school.

Our cutoff for school was 9/30. Guess who was born on 10/1 ? I was 18 and 8 months on graduation day. I never repeated a grade and I started school on the exact day they would let me. My parents wanted me to start the year before and they even had the school psychologist test me for readiness (that person said that because I could already read and add/subtract I should actually go to second grade). The school said they didn't have room and I would need to wait until the next year.

Being 19 is NOT his fault. It's pretty petty of you to judge the OP based on the children your sons are encountering and not on the merits of his situation. And of the kids in your sons' class entered Kindergarten according to the rules in your school district, I don't know why you are so upset. You are all playing by the same rules. No one changed the rules to suit those boys.

We sent our daughters to private school because they took kids at whatever age the child could pass the school district readiness tests. If you were 4 and could pass, they took you. It was about the merits of the child. Public school is no longer about that - it's about making everyone feel good.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I was wondering where she was getting that, LGS. I went back to read the thread again to see if I missed something, LOL!

But people have serious problems if they think their kids are at a disadvantage b/c they are a few months younger than their classmates.
2 years is not a few months.

Graduating at 17 is NOT NORMAL. School cutoffs are in September. Unless a child has a summer birthday - they should almost all be 18 when they graduate. Can you not do the simple math? Does 5+13 NOT equal 18? Has addition changed?

And seriously, when you start kindergarten really does not mean anything by the time you get to high school.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
FNW wrote:
Do you not understand child development? Two years is a lot when you're young.
If it was that upsetting to you, then blame YOURSELF for not holding your kids back if you find that to be of such importance.
Just because everyone else is jumping off bridges doesn't mean we should.
The rest of us aren't whining about "unfair advantages" of people who jump off bridges as are you.
Says the woman who held her kids back.
Huh? What are you talking about? I didn't hold my kids back. They started as soon as they were eligible. What are you talking about? Are you OK? Sheesh.
Sorry, I misspoke. I confused you with someone else who red-shirted their kids.

OK??? confuse

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I was wondering where she was getting that, LGS. I went back to read the thread again to see if I missed something, LOL!

But people have serious problems if they think their kids are at a disadvantage b/c they are a few months younger than their classmates.
2 years is not a few months.

So what? They all did the SAME work. So, what? Someone always going to the youngest and someone is always going to be the oldest? He didn't violate any rules in doing so. Get over it.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

You really seem to have some deep seated resentment which seems bizarre.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

Lawyerlady wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I was wondering where she was getting that, LGS. I went back to read the thread again to see if I missed something, LOL!

But people have serious problems if they think their kids are at a disadvantage b/c they are a few months younger than their classmates.
2 years is not a few months.
Graduating at 17 is NOT NORMAL. School cutoffs are in September. Unless a child has a summer birthday - they should almost all be 18 when they graduate. Can you not do the simple math? Does 5+13 NOT equal 18? Has addition changed?
And seriously, when you start kindergarten really does not mean anything by the time you get to high school.

School cut offs are not all in September. In our district, it was August 1.

Paul was one of the youngest in his class.

He graduated from High School the day before his 18th birthday.

flan327 · Itty bitty's Grammy

This thread took an odd turn...

flan

msrock · Guru

In my school, we had both Honors and Advanced Placement classes. I was in English Honors for 4 years and then we had Advanced Placement History and the Social Studies Category. Math and Sciences you basically just took the classes you were capable of. There were no Honors/AP classes for those because the classes offered were plenty and you had to test into the level you would start at.

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Well yes, when you start getting attacked with false information it does tend to turn.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

And quite frankly, there are other reasons for a child to be older. My friend's child was very SICK in kindergarten and missed most of the year and had to repeat it because of too many absenses - the fact that she knew the stuff didn't matter. Did her illness give her an advantage? And she was already "behind" because her birthday is at the end of September and the cutoff to start is the beginning of September. So, she'll be 19 when she graduates.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

The only people who were still 17 when DD graduated were the 2 who started school at age 4. One of them was born in early September and the other was DD who went to private school and started at age 4. Almost no one is 17 at graduation. And only a handful were 19.

These days school psychologists will recommend holding boys back because they mature more slowly socially. So if a parent is trusting a professional in their field, you would fault them for trying to follow that advice and do what's best for their child ?