TOTALLY GEEKED!

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

RE: Valedictorian barred from graduation

msrock · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
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 ?

This is very true.

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

Lady Gaga Snerd wrote:
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???

Who? Nobody on this thread has said they did that.

chillepeppa · Regular

Our school year runs with the year. Starts in Jan ends in Dec. Standard is you start Grade 1 the year you turn 7, so bar any incidents, majority of students graduate the year they turn 18. As mentioned here, only private schools will take a younger kid on that is ready by their internal standards.

msrock · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
msrock wrote:
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.
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
Well, geez, if you had started later, you probably wouldn't have done so poorly.

I know, right? I absolutely loved school! I challenged myself. smile

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

Fort Worth Mom wrote:
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.

So, you mean to tell me all his classmates were 18 when they graduated? Holy cow, how unfair for him! evileye

FNW · Guru

Lawyerlady 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.
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.

Yes, it should be. Which was my original statement. They were slow. Or so their parent believed at the time. But I've seen more parents think their child is not ready but in reality, it is the parent who is not ready. And yes, it's up to the parents. Even those who hold their child back so they are bigger, stronger, and more mature in order to compete better in sports. Those have the advantage, which is the whole point in holding them back. If you don't understand, look up red-shirting. I couldn't make this carp up.

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

It isn't against the rules. It's actually fine with literally everyone involved except you. Why do you care how old your neighbor is when he goes to kindergarten? I just don't understand the animosity !

-- Edited by Mellow Momma on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 10:03:59 AM

FNW · Guru

msrock wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
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 ?
This is very true.

We did. They told us both the boys were "so ready" to start.

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

FNW wrote:
msrock wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
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 ?
This is very true.
We did. They told us both the boys were "so ready" to start.

Ok...so what's your ppint? Your kids were ready to start school and were allowed to. Good.

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

FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady 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.
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.

Yes, it should be. Which was my original statement. They were slow. Or so their parent believed at the time. But I've seen more parents think their child is not ready but in reality, it is the parent who is not ready. And yes, it's up to the parents. Even those who hold their child back so they are bigger, stronger, and more mature in order to compete better in sports. Those have the advantage, which is the whole point in holding them back. If you don't understand, look up red-shirting. I couldn't make this carp up.

I've seen the articles and I think they are stupid. Big deal if a parent doesn't want to send their kid to school until they are 6. The law allows it, and a parent has the right to decide. YOU chose to send your kids when you did, just because other parents choose differently doesn't mean their kid is slow.

And seriously? The kid in the OP is not, and has never been slow.

DemoniaD · Senior Member

School ends in May here.

My oldest will graduate the month after he turns 18. He is at the younger end of the middle range.

My youngest will turn 18 about a month and a half after graduation. He was the youngest in his class, but he was also the top performer, even over the child that will turn 19 just before graduation. Is my son at a disadvantage? I don't think so.

In fact, spending time in both the pre-k and k classrooms the past view years, it wasn't hard to spot the kids that have a real academic disadvantage- those that have no one working with them, reinforcing the learning outside the classroom.

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

FNW wrote:
msrock wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
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 ?
This is very true.
We did. They told us both the boys were "so ready" to start.

Were they 5? When is their birthday?

Alright - I looked, you said June. Early or late, and how does your school year fall. Because if you are in the north where graduation is late June and their birthdays are early June - your boys will be 18 when they graduate. And even if they are not, they will be very, very, very close to it.

-- Edited by Lawyerlady on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 10:18:19 AM

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

The bottom line is, it isn't like the school only has a dozen A's to give out in each class and your kids have to compete to get one of those dozen A's. No. Your child can...wait for it...earn the grade by studying! If everyone else gets an A too, then good. They don't limit the number of A's, so your kids are not in competition for grades. They only have to master the material to get the grades they deserve. Crazy I know. What other kids earn or do isn't any concern of yours. At the end of the grading period, no one looks at how many A's are given out and caps them. The kids who earn them get the grades they earned.

So it doesn't matter if your neighbor is 5 or 25 when he starts kindergarten. It has no impact on how well your children do in school.

Oh and if you are worried about sports, I can tell you that no one except for football recruits kids based on their high school sports team performance. It's all about the club team performance. Any kid can be a high school superstar. It's how well that does when he/she plays against other really good kids at the elite level that matters. And guess what? Club sports is run by birth year...so it's all even developmentally. DH coached college Division 1 sports and the only coaches who watched high school games were football coaches.

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

I can see it now, her kid will get salutorian, and it will only be because the valedictorian is 3 months older, not because he earned it.

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

At my high school alma mater this year there were 14 valedictorians. They all had perfect GPA's with the same classes. They don't necessarily even whittle that down any. Half the National Honor Society had a 4.0.

-- Edited by Mellow Momma on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 10:27:08 AM

FNW · Guru

Yes, they were 5. Their birthday is end of June.

So how are "standards" applied? In other words, are standards based on grade level, or age, or both? At some level, there is a curve, or comparison.

I could care less about sports. If I cared, they would have been red shirted.

FNW · Guru

Lawyerlady wrote:
I can see it now, her kid will get salutorian, and it will only be because the valedictorian is 3 months older, not because he earned it.

I don't care what grades they get as long as they score the highest they can in effort.

Domestic Engineer · 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.

High schools now offer "honor/college level classes" that have a higher grade point. An A = 5.0, B = 4.0, C = 3.0....

Ohfour · Hooker

FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I can see it now, her kid will get salutorian, and it will only be because the valedictorian is 3 months older, not because he earned it.
I don't care what grades they get as long as they score the highest they can in effort.

confuse confuse confuse confuse

In effort? Really? It's ALL about the grades. If you can't make the grade, you shouldn't get the prize.

Seriously?????

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

You must be able to do certain tasks to start kindergarten. You must be able to recite your name, parents names and simple facts about your home (I have a sister,etc) You must be able to track an object with your eyes for a certain number of seconds - that tests for reading readiness. There is not curve or age stipulation. If you can do those things you can go to school. Some kids cannot do those things at age 5. So they must stay home. It has zero to do with age. It's not even a factor. They test the child based on the tasks.

FNW · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I can see it now, her kid will get salutorian, and it will only be because the valedictorian is 3 months older, not because he earned it.
I don't care what grades they get as long as they score the highest they can in effort.
In effort? Really? It's ALL about the grades. If you can't make the grade, you shouldn't get the prize.
Seriously?????

There are going to be subjects where they might or might not excel. If they try their damnest and still can't get it, even after help from us and whoever can provide the best assistance they still don't do well, no, I won't beat them up over it. Some times you just have to accept the fact that you can't. But if you try your best, then that's what counts, IMO. (And of course, if you try your best, you will most likely get the good grade). So my emphasis is for them to try.

The highest scores right now at their grade level is 4. Both boys received almost all 4's, with a couple 3's thrown in. I'm not going to beat them up because they didn't get all 4's. I will see where they need help and work with them.

Ohfour · Hooker

Sorry....I thought you were talking in general. I understand what you are saying now...
I apologize.

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

The far bigger issue that I have seen is grade inflation. It seems now everyone gets an A or everyone passes. If someone's VSS gets a B or a C their parents storm the castle screaming and want to know what the teacher did wrong. So teachers pass out A's to everyone. In my experience, this happens far more in public school than in private school. Principals in private school will tell a parent to STFU if they need to and public school principals are more cautious. Their hands are pretty much tied in a lot of cases. DD's public middle school started an additional volleyball team for the VSS's who didn't make the middle school team and complained to the principal and he caved. They had to buy uniforms, get another coach, and bus this second team because the parents complained it wasn't fair that their kid got cut from the team. It was a HUGE fail on everyone's part. That's when we packed it in with public schools.

That's just one reason we chose private schools for our kids. I know a lot of teachers and principals and they all send their kids to private schools for similar reasons. Public schools will pass everyone and inflate grades.

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

FNW wrote:
Ohfour wrote:
FNW wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
I can see it now, her kid will get salutorian, and it will only be because the valedictorian is 3 months older, not because he earned it.
I don't care what grades they get as long as they score the highest they can in effort.
In effort? Really? It's ALL about the grades. If you can't make the grade, you shouldn't get the prize.
Seriously?????
There are going to be subjects where they might or might not excel. If they try their damnest and still can't get it, even after help from us and whoever can provide the best assistance they still don't do well, no, I won't beat them up over it. Some times you just have to accept the fact that you can't. But if you try your best, then that's what counts, IMO. (And of course, if you try your best, you will most likely get the good grade). So my emphasis is for them to try.

The highest scores right now at their grade level is 4. Both boys received almost all 4's, with a couple 3's thrown in. I'm not going to beat them up because they didn't get all 4's. I will see where they need help and work with them.

But someone else may do better than them, and get higher academic awards and that someone might be a little older. That doesn't mean that is the REASON they did better.

Some people are just smarter than others, and age has nothing to do with it.

FNW · Guru

And there will be subjects that they just don't like. Right now it's Spanish. They found it boring last year. Hopefully they will get a different teacher who might make it interesting. I try to work with them as well and have fiesta nights where we eat Mexican food and see how many different ingredients we can say in Spanish. When they get to verbiage, I can help with that, too, because I was good in that area.

I'll agree with Demonia that those who are at a disadvantage are the ones who don't have any one at home carrying the ball....and that's unfortunate for those children.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Personally, I think graduation ceremonies are too long anyway.

Any speech should be less than 2 minutes and no more than 2 total.

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

FNW wrote:
And there will be subjects that they just don't like. Right now it's Spanish. They found it boring last year. Hopefully they will get a different teacher who might make it interesting. I try to work with them as well and have fiesta nights where we eat Mexican food and see how many different ingredients we can say in Spanish. When they get to verbiage, I can help with that, too, because I was good in that area.

I'll agree with Demonia that those who are at a disadvantage are the ones who don't have any one at home carrying the ball....and that's unfortunate for those children.

And some of the kids who don't have anyone at home to help them have to start school later than their peers because they are behind. Thus they graduate at 19!

FNW · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
The far bigger issue that I have seen is grade inflation. It seems now everyone gets an A or everyone passes. If someone's VSS gets a B or a C their parents storm the castle screaming and want to know what the teacher did wrong. So teachers pass out A's to everyone. In my experience, this happens far more in public school than in private school. Principals in private school will tell a parent to STFU if they need to and public school principals are more cautious. Their hands are pretty much tied in a lot of cases. DD's public middle school started an additional volleyball team for the VSS's who didn't make the middle school team and complained to the principal and he caved. They had to buy uniforms, get another coach, and bus this second team because the parents complained it wasn't fair that their kid got cut from the team. It was a HUGE fail on everyone's part. That's when we packed it in with public schools.

That's just one reason we chose private schools for our kids. I know a lot of teachers and principals and they all send their kids to private schools for similar reasons. Public schools will pass everyone and inflate grades.

I thought the same thing about my #2...he is a charmer and I wondered if he charmed his teacher because she really liked him. I know that's terrible to think, but he is such the "fly by the seat of your pants" type of child, sort of like how I was, where #1 is very studious and was graded slightly lower. But then they both were evaluated by an outside party in reading and language, and wouldn't you know it, #2 still scored higher. (And before I'm flamed, I would never "compare" each other verbally to them, it was just something I noticed in my mind).

Personally, I cannot ever seeing myself coming down on a teacher for my child's grades or for not making the cut. But I'm involved as far as I attend parent/teacher conferences where I actually welcome and listen to feedback from the teacher and ask for advice on how I might help them do better. It's an approach that I have learned from my friends who are teachers and administrators. I understand that schools keep files on the kids and document every contact they receive from parents and this "file" follows the child through college. They know who the problem parents are, and that hurts the child.

I considered private school, but learned that the private schools in our area follow the county's lesson plans, etc., because our county has what is considered to be a very good academics program.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I graduated at 19. Because when I transferred from private to public in the 8th grade I lost credit.

All of my kids will be 19 when they graduate.

A lot of people don't graduate till 19.

FNW · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
I graduated at 19. Because when I transferred from private to public in the 8th grade I lost credit.

All of my kids will be 19 when they graduate.

A lot of people don't graduate till 19.

Same thing happened to a good friend of mine in school. She was way ahead of her class academically, too. Kudos to her, I was very happy for her when she made valedictorian. But I also understood that she was older, more mature, and had the benefit of early private school education. I knew this because I knew her. (A lot of people shunned her because of this). Just because I acknowledge this doesn't mean I'm jealous or harbor ill feelings, which many of you ASSume. On the contrary, I was there cheering her on. And back then, there was only one vale and one sale. And it was based on comparison of their peers and grading was done on curves in a lot of areas.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

My birthday is mid-November so I missed the September cut off date. My parents thought I was ready so I started in private school so I didn't have to wait another year. I don't think I was ever at a disadvantage. I was 17 when I graduated. They wanted me to skip a grade in middle school but my dad didn't want me to. He was afraid of sending a 12yo to HS. He was afraid that I might not be mature enough to handle myself.

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

FNW wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
The far bigger issue that I have seen is grade inflation. It seems now everyone gets an A or everyone passes. If someone's VSS gets a B or a C their parents storm the castle screaming and want to know what the teacher did wrong. So teachers pass out A's to everyone. In my experience, this happens far more in public school than in private school. Principals in private school will tell a parent to STFU if they need to and public school principals are more cautious. Their hands are pretty much tied in a lot of cases. DD's public middle school started an additional volleyball team for the VSS's who didn't make the middle school team and complained to the principal and he caved. They had to buy uniforms, get another coach, and bus this second team because the parents complained it wasn't fair that their kid got cut from the team. It was a HUGE fail on everyone's part. That's when we packed it in with public schools.

That's just one reason we chose private schools for our kids. I know a lot of teachers and principals and they all send their kids to private schools for similar reasons. Public schools will pass everyone and inflate grades.
I thought the same thing about my #2...he is a charmer and I wondered if he charmed his teacher because she really liked him. I know that's terrible to think, but he is such the "fly by the seat of your pants" type of child, sort of like how I was, where #1 is very studious and was graded slightly lower. But then they both were evaluated by an outside party in reading and language, and wouldn't you know it, #2 still scored higher. (And before I'm flamed, I would never "compare" each other verbally to them, it was just something I noticed in my mind).
Personally, I cannot ever seeing myself coming down on a teacher for my child's grades or for not making the cut. But I'm involved as far as I attend parent/teacher conferences where I actually welcome and listen to feedback from the teacher and ask for advice on how I might help them do better. It's an approach that I have learned from my friends who are teachers and administrators. I understand that schools keep files on the kids and document every contact they receive from parents and this "file" follows the child through college. They know who the problem parents are, and that hurts the child.
I considered private school, but learned that the private schools in our area follow the county's lesson plans, etc., because our county has what is considered to be a very good academics program.

The private school might follow the county's lesson plans, but trust me, the private school principal has more control over the building than the public school principal. A public school principal has to bend to every parent who walks in the door - lest they sue the district. I have seen it happens dozens of times over ridiculous things. The private school principal will actually tell the parents when they are wrong and assert his/her authority over the situation. That makes all the difference in the environment inside the classroom believe it or not. The teachers feel supported and empowered to give students the grades they deserve. The principal backs up the teachers and if parents don't like it - they can leave!

Again, this is my experience only and as PBJ would say, YMMV, but I have lived all over and have many friends and family who are teachers and admins and they all say pretty much the same thing.

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

The biggest difference between private and public school is the ability to discipline and kick out problem kids. The classroom is about learning, not babysitting brats.

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

And I don't think you are jealous or harbor ill will towards anyone. I just don't understand why you care how old your neighbor's kids are when they go to kindergarten. All that matters is that your kids are doing their best. Eyes on your own paper as they say.

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

Lawyerlady wrote:
The biggest difference between private and public school is the ability to discipline and kick out problem kids. The classroom is about learning, not babysitting brats.

Yep! When a public school disciplines a kid their parent throws a fit and threatens to sue the school and they end up letting the brat back into class. Private school will kick you out and when that happens, they get to keep the tuition you paid.

FNW · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
And I don't think you are jealous or harbor ill will towards anyone. I just don't understand why you care how old your neighbor's kids are when they go to kindergarten. All that matters is that your kids are doing their best. Eyes on your own paper as they say.

My eyes are on my own paper, and I don't really care. But I acknowledge that there are differences and yes, sometimes advantages that others don't seem to recognize. Personally, I find getting an early start an advantage as we had an early start on life. But I also find that those who are older have an advantage on maturity and time on this planet to learn a little more. It is what it is, is all I have been trying to say.

Ohfour · Hooker

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
The biggest difference between private and public school is the ability to discipline and kick out problem kids. The classroom is about learning, not babysitting brats.
Yep! When a public school disciplines a kid their parent throws a fit and threatens to sue the school and they end up letting the brat back into class. Private school will kick you out and when that happens, they get to keep the tuition you paid.

Definitely.

That was my downfall. I was already a bit rebellious, but when I went from an all girls private school to the biggest public school in TN, the wrath of OhFour was unleashed. They didn't even call your parents when you missed a class! What the HECK????? And I could smoke in the bathrooms? And sleep in class? REALLY? I thought I had died and gone to heaven....

I pay for it to this day...

FNW · Guru

Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
The biggest difference between private and public school is the ability to discipline and kick out problem kids. The classroom is about learning, not babysitting brats.
Yep! When a public school disciplines a kid their parent throws a fit and threatens to sue the school and they end up letting the brat back into class. Private school will kick you out and when that happens, they get to keep the tuition you paid.

I'm all about discipline and if my child acts up, I say let them have it. But I was in favor of that judge admonishing the boy who went off looking for sex on the internet. I'm in the minority of public school parents, I know.

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

FNW wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
And I don't think you are jealous or harbor ill will towards anyone. I just don't understand why you care how old your neighbor's kids are when they go to kindergarten. All that matters is that your kids are doing their best. Eyes on your own paper as they say.
My eyes are on my own paper, and I don't really care. But I acknowledge that there are differences and yes, sometimes advantages that others don't seem to recognize. Personally, I find getting an early start an advantage as we had an early start on life. But I also find that those who are older have an advantage on maturity and time on this planet to learn a little more. It is what it is, is all I have been trying to say.

Well you can't have it both ways. Either starting early is an advantage or starting late is an advantage. Which is it? If they both have their own unique advantages, then there should be nothing to worry about.

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

FNW wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
And I don't think you are jealous or harbor ill will towards anyone. I just don't understand why you care how old your neighbor's kids are when they go to kindergarten. All that matters is that your kids are doing their best. Eyes on your own paper as they say.
My eyes are on my own paper, and I don't really care. But I acknowledge that there are differences and yes, sometimes advantages that others don't seem to recognize. Personally, I find getting an early start an advantage as we had an early start on life. But I also find that those who are older have an advantage on maturity and time on this planet to learn a little more. It is what it is, is all I have been trying to say.

There are all kinds of different advantages. Your boys will have the advantage of having parents that care about their education - many kids don't. Your boys will have the advantage of never being hungry - many kids don't. Your boys will have the advantage of having educated parents that can help them with their homework - many kids don't.

FNW · Guru

I said there are advantages to both. And academically, perhaps the older child has the advantage, hence the older valedictorians. But we get an earlier start, age-wise, in the real world. But I grew up in an era where kids started school at age 4 or 5 and maybe an occasional barely 6. Any older and you had a stigma.

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

FNW wrote:
I said there are advantages to both. And academically, perhaps the older child has the advantage, hence the older valedictorians. But we get an earlier start, age-wise, in the real world. But I grew up in an era where kids started school at age 4 or 5 and maybe an occasional barely 6. Any older and you had a stigma.

Times, they are a changin'. People are not as gung ho to turn their kids over to the public school system as they used to be.

And just FYI - Baby J just turned 5 in May and she'll be starting kindergarten on July 31st.

burns07 · Guru

we don't know this kid--that said, valedictorian is an honor not a right--it seems this kid has had a persistent authority / behavior issue--the school is certainly within their authority to choose another speaker--this kid ( and this author who seems to have a personal axe to grind ) needs to grow up--actions have consequences in the real world

Ohfour · Hooker

My best friend was valedictorian of our class. She was 17. Her birthday is July 14th.

I don't buy into the notion (and that's what it is...there is no data) that valedictorians are usually the older of the class. There's not a whole lot of difference between almost 18 and just turned 19. If you are smart, you are as smart at 17 as you are at 19.

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

burns07 wrote:

we don't know this kid--that said, valedictorian is an honor not a right--it seems this kid has had a persistent authority / behavior issue--the school is certainly within their authority to choose another speaker--this kid ( and this author who seems to have a personal axe to grind ) needs to grow up--actions have consequences in the real world

I just want to know what the "action" is that he is being punished for - the one incident he was already punished for several months ago? And one incident of mouthiness is allowed to overshadow years of hard work and achievement?

And as for the author - there are at least 15 articles on this that all say the same thing.

TrudyML · Guru

Ohfour wrote:
Mellow Momma wrote:
Lawyerlady wrote:
The biggest difference between private and public school is the ability to discipline and kick out problem kids. The classroom is about learning, not babysitting brats.
Yep! When a public school disciplines a kid their parent throws a fit and threatens to sue the school and they end up letting the brat back into class. Private school will kick you out and when that happens, they get to keep the tuition you paid.
Definitely.
That was my downfall. I was already a bit rebellious, but when I went from an all girls private school to the biggest public school in TN, the wrath of OhFour was unleashed. They didn't even call your parents when you missed a class! What the HECK????? And I could smoke in the bathrooms? And sleep in class? REALLY? I thought I had died and gone to heaven....
I pay for it to this day...

I was at a private school doing that! LOL

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

Ohfour wrote:
My best friend was valedictorian of our class. She was 17. Her birthday is July 14th.

I don't buy into the notion (and that's what it is...there is no data) that valedictorians are usually the older of the class. There's not a whole lot of difference between almost 18 and just turned 19. If you are smart, you are as smart at 17 as you are at 19.

I can agree that in kindergarten, even 6 months can make a difference - especially with maturity levels. That's why parents make the determination if their kid is ready for school. Buy by high school, after years of being in the same level of school - that should no longer be an issue.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

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 did and I am older than you I think. Must depend on the school system.

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

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.

Yes, the kids are how taught to round up! Not kidding so if you turned 18 before Jan 1 of your senior year you were 19 when you graduated. stupid.