Arguments Against Advancement

Over the past couple of years, I have talked to one school administrator after another. Each has been brutal in their support of the strict stance on the Sept. 1 cut-off date. Here is a typical conversation with a school administrator (administrator's comments are in bold). The conversation begins with us telling Ellie's story.

"Well, you already know the answer to that. There are no exceptions."

But she already completed a private Kindergarten program.

"That doesn't matter. Because your daughter's birthday falls before the cut-off for first grade and since Kindergarten is optional, she is not recognized as an eligible student. We don't have to recognize programs taken by ineligible students."

But my daughter already knows all of the material that will be offered in Kindergarten.

"That's too bad. The fact is that there are no exceptions."

I guess I don't understand why. It doesn't make sense.

"Look, your child will be the youngest in the class by at least a year."

How is that possible? She only missed the cut-off by 6 days!

"Almost every parent holds the child back when the child's birthday is in July or August."

So basically, you're telling me that I have to parent my child based on how others are parenting theirs? You're telling me that my child's progress should be determined based on the development of some other child?

"But then your child will be the last to get a driver's license."

Not all parents allow children to get a driver's license the minute the child turns 16. Besides, if she's the first to get a license, she will end up being the taxi service for all of those who don't have licenses.

"Your child seems ready to start school now, but who says she will be ready 4 years from now?"

I will admit. I'm not a psychic. There MAY be problems later. Who knows? No one can tell. But I CAN tell you that we have problems RIGHT NOW! Shouldn't we resolve the current problems now and leave the possible future problems for when they actually happen?

"But you don't understand. We don't want our children to all grow up and be computer nerds."

Excuse me?!? What's wrong with being interested in computers? Last time I checked, "computer nerds" have well paying jobs.

"You just don't understand. We're talking about maturity here. A child that is less mature just can't handle school."

What test of maturity did the children entering school pass that allowed them to gain entrance? None! The fact of the matter is that age does not equate to maturity, and being the youngest does not necessarily equate to being the least mature.

"But you have no right to push your child into a situation in which she's guaranteed to fail!"

Who says that she will fail? Can you show me a study that proves definitively that the youngest child in the class always fails or that the oldest child in the class always passes? Or that SIX days makes a difference?

"Well, no. But you're obviously over-involved in your child's education. You need to back off and leave it to the professionals."

I can't believe I'm hearing this! Schools are begging for parents to be involved in a child's education. But you're telling me to back off? I know my child. You don't. As such, I know what's best for her. It's my job to be her advocate.

If you would at least like to get to know her, then you would see that I'm right. I can arrange that. I even have samples of her work, letters from her teachers, and other information to back me up. Would you like to see that?

"No. That won't be necessary. As I said before, there are no exceptions."