Comments on: When Did We Become Chopped Liver? http://www.hollyscorner.com/blog/2007/03/02/when-did-we-become-chopped-liver/ Make it a masterpiece. Thu, 17 May 2012 06:25:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Laura Bybee http://www.hollyscorner.com/blog/2007/03/02/when-did-we-become-chopped-liver/comment-page-1/#comment-6349 Laura Bybee Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:45:41 +0000 http://www.hollyscorner.com/blog/2007/03/02/when-did-we-become-chopped-liver/#comment-6349 So by the State law he should be starting Kindergarten but the district has a different law and he's too young according to it? Is that the issue? Age and the cut-off date have always been an issue for me but not for the same reasons. In fact, when I hear parents discussing this issue, I offer my unsolicited advice that they should really consider holding a child on the border back. Why? I was either the youngest (November) or second-youngest (I've heard Vern was even younger than me) in my (our) graduating class and I hated it. It wasn't the intelligence issue I struggled with (I skipped over half of Kindergarten) but the emotional and actual age difference that caused my problem (they kept me in first grade even though I was smart enough to continue because there was just too much of an age difference between me and my classmates). As we got older, I was always the last one to do stuff (or advance): Young Women and its different groups, DRIVING, youth conference, DATING (try turning 16 in November of your Junior year)... All my school mates were doing these things way before I was and I was left with the younger kids who weren't my "friends." I believe it really enforced my constant feelings of being the "odd one out" because I was left behind by so many of my peers. Of course I'm reaping the benefits of being the youngest these days... It just was incredibly painful at that time. In fact, some of my life-altering decisions were made based on those struggles. OTOH, my youngest brother, Jonathan, had a September birthday and he THRIVED--which I always mention along with my own experience. So, it really depends upon the individual child. AND only the parent knows at that... So I suppose I'm agreeing with you in a round about kind of way... ;-) <em><strong>I know exactly what you mean. I was one of the oldest waiting another year and dh was also one of the youngest in your class. He didn't mind so much but he's a guy and I think that makes a difference. Interestingly enough, my daughter's birthday is just a few days different from my son's but I knew watching her and from my own experience she really needed that extra year. So far so good. My son is different in about every way and I really think he'd do great if he could start this year. In fact, he's only doing the school's 5 day 2.5 hour preschool because he was ready and asking for it. It's been like Kindergarten prep for him. Guess time will tell. Boy raising kids gets complicated!! LOL</strong></em> So by the State law he should be starting Kindergarten but the district has a different law and he’s too young according to it? Is that the issue?

Age and the cut-off date have always been an issue for me but not for the same reasons. In fact, when I hear parents discussing this issue, I offer my unsolicited advice that they should really consider holding a child on the border back. Why? I was either the youngest (November) or second-youngest (I’ve heard Vern was even younger than me) in my (our) graduating class and I hated it. It wasn’t the intelligence issue I struggled with (I skipped over half of Kindergarten) but the emotional and actual age difference that caused my problem (they kept me in first grade even though I was smart enough to continue because there was just too much of an age difference between me and my classmates).

As we got older, I was always the last one to do stuff (or advance): Young Women and its different groups, DRIVING, youth conference, DATING (try turning 16 in November of your Junior year)… All my school mates were doing these things way before I was and I was left with the younger kids who weren’t my “friends.” I believe it really enforced my constant feelings of being the “odd one out” because I was left behind by so many of my peers.

Of course I’m reaping the benefits of being the youngest these days… It just was incredibly painful at that time. In fact, some of my life-altering decisions were made based on those struggles.

OTOH, my youngest brother, Jonathan, had a September birthday and he THRIVED–which I always mention along with my own experience.

So, it really depends upon the individual child. AND only the parent knows at that…

So I suppose I’m agreeing with you in a round about kind of way… ;-)

I know exactly what you mean. I was one of the oldest waiting another year and dh was also one of the youngest in your class. He didn’t mind so much but he’s a guy and I think that makes a difference. Interestingly enough, my daughter’s birthday is just a few days different from my son’s but I knew watching her and from my own experience she really needed that extra year. So far so good. My son is different in about every way and I really think he’d do great if he could start this year. In fact, he’s only doing the school’s 5 day 2.5 hour preschool because he was ready and asking for it. It’s been like Kindergarten prep for him. Guess time will tell. Boy raising kids gets complicated!! LOL

]]> By: Daddy Forever http://www.hollyscorner.com/blog/2007/03/02/when-did-we-become-chopped-liver/comment-page-1/#comment-6271 Daddy Forever Sat, 03 Mar 2007 06:41:48 +0000 http://www.hollyscorner.com/blog/2007/03/02/when-did-we-become-chopped-liver/#comment-6271 We have the same law in Oregon, but our law does require turning five before school starts...unless they pass a test, which they say rarely happens. Luckily, our youngest was born a week before Labor Day. Though it does seem weird that another kid born a few days later have to wait another year before they can start school. Does those extra few days really make a difference during the course of the year? Heck, kindergarten is only 2 1/2 hours here. Not enough money. Maybe they should focus on that issue instead of the age issue. <em><strong>I share those thoughts. In fact, it's harder this year because the next door district does an early learner program for kids who turn 5 after the cut off but before the end of the year. My daughter benefited from that program before we moved and I wish this district did it too.</strong></em> We have the same law in Oregon, but our law does require turning five before school starts…unless they pass a test, which they say rarely happens. Luckily, our youngest was born a week before Labor Day. Though it does seem weird that another kid born a few days later have to wait another year before they can start school. Does those extra few days really make a difference during the course of the year? Heck, kindergarten is only 2 1/2 hours here. Not enough money. Maybe they should focus on that issue instead of the age issue.

I share those thoughts. In fact, it’s harder this year because the next door district does an early learner program for kids who turn 5 after the cut off but before the end of the year. My daughter benefited from that program before we moved and I wish this district did it too.

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