|
|
How
do you feel about children skipping grades at school?If a child is so
bright that she can skip a grade, she probably isn't fitting in with her peers anyway, so
let her skip the grade and at least be interested in the work going on around her.
Laura, 36
Lowell, MA
USA
I wanted to do that so badly when I was a
kid. If my school had had the facilities I would have. Now I don't really think about it
much. Things work out the way they work out. But if I had kids and they wanted to skip and
could, I'd absolutely let them. My friend Mike actually skipped two grades.
Karen, 21
Marshelltown/Ames, IA USA
I think it's a good idea if the children
actually have intelligence, but I don't think it should be done out of favortism
Melodi, 19
Gahanna, OH
USA
It's bad to be bored because you're not
being challenged - but on the other hand - especially highly intelligent kids are often
slower in - social- emotional development, I think, in terms of growing up - and being
moved beyond their age group might make them lonely. I don't know. As long as the
decision's not about the ambitions of the parents ...
no-itsme, 29
HOLLAND
It really depends. Skipping one grade.
Probably. 2 or 3? If the child is as emotionally developed as mentally developed I would
say sure.
Then again, I remember for the longest time
being the smartest kid in my class in elementary school and I was hassled and taunted a
lot. I would have preferred to be tracked with other kids at my level or have a few more
kids where I was at in my class.
Felicia, 35
Lowell, MA
USA
Once again, a question that hits me close to
home! I skipped the 12th grade, graduated early and started my freshman year of college at
16 years old. I think that allowing children to skip a grade is fine if they have reached
the maturity level of the grade they are about to enter. Most of the problems encountered
when skipping a grade come from the child not being socially adept or mature enough to
handle the grade they are going into. Especially in my case, had I not always been mature
for my age, I would have had a very hard time adapting. Luckily, I had lots of support and
I am able to make friends easily-and I felt I was ready for that step. It was a good
choice for me-rather than waste a year in high school, I am already done with the first
year of what will prepare me for the rest of my life. As for any other child skipping a
grade-I feel that that is just something that would be up to the parent to decide.
Angela, 16
Bella Vista, AR USA
more power to them but they need to
understand very clearly that it won't always be that easy
Firelady, 23
Dallas, TX
USA
If the child is smart enough I think they
should although consideration of their emotional age should be taken into account.
when I was in Prep I was considered to be moved upto Second Grade due to my reading and
math skills, my mother choose instead to keep me where I was as she though I did not have
the emotional strength to deal with it. I think she made the right choice. But there are
children out there whose emotional well being could be damaged if they stay back.
I think it should be a decision whereby the
parents, teacher and child all work out what is best.
Allie Cat
I think that it's a good thing because just
because everyone isn't as smart as you doesn't mean they should be held back. They should
be given the choice.
Dianne, 16
Ontario CANADA
I skipped my senior year of high school and
started college early. As my high school offered little in the way of honors or advanced
placement courses, it got me out of a situation where I was totally bored and was probably
the best available option to me. In general, however, I think skipping grades should be a
last resort, and I chose with my own kids to put them in enriched classes instead.
Jane, 60
West Linn, OR
USA
I skipped first grade ten years ago
and I can say that it has had its ups and downs, I am glad that I'm graduating next year
and not in another year.
Justin
Bend, OR USA
Skipping grades is not ideal, but in many
cases moving a child ahead is the only way to keep that child from being bored. Both of my
sons "skipped" grades and were none the worse for the experience. I
"skipped" two grades myself.
Jill, 60
Saylorsburg, PA USA
I'm not a real big fan of the school system
to begin with, if they can get out early with a diploma good for them.
Alias Irrelevante
I'm pretty much fine with it. I didn't skip
any grades in school, but I started first grade when I was four years old (most kids in
the U.S. are six years old) and while I had some social problems when I was younger I did
graduate and go to college as a (mostly) happy healthy teenager. I'm not sure what it
would be like to *skip* grades, though.
etoile, 20
Washington, DC USA
It's good to excel.
Jami, 27
Lowell, MA
USA
what's wrong w/ it??
Mandi, 16
Lake City, MN
USA
As long as its only one grade, its
cool; any more than that might have some social consequences on the child. And if the
child really wants to/is ready to do it. If they don't
want to leave their friends behind to skip a grade they shouldnt have to; social stuff is
very important to a child's life.
Talia, 23
Wilton, CT
USA
I think it's good as far as education and
challenging the child but as far as social development with children their age, if it's
not crucial that they go to another grade, it shouldn't risk that social learning as well.
Stephanie, 25
TX USA
It should not solely depend on their
intelligence unless they were an absolute genius and in that case keeping them in the
correct grade could stunt their mental growth. Looking at an above average intelligent
child though requires looking at age and social skills as well. Too many times they
are pushed ahead and not ready socially at all. They may advance in academics, but you'll
see that they have no friends and hardly any acquaintances. This can and will damage some
children forever. Being mindful of that however, if they are ready, then yes I think
it's ok to skip
Tracy, 24
Ocean City, NJ USA
I think it's ok, as long as they are
prepared to deal with kids older than them and to take on the more hard work.
Karen2, 15
Boston, MA
USA
I think that there must be a valid
reason for the kid to skip a grade. I doubt very much
that the authorities would move a child ahead a year to make his or her life difficult. So
I have no problem with it.
Shanna, 16
Cardiff ENGLAND
Well, it's hard to make a sweeping statement
about an issue that obviously is different for each kid. All I have to say is that social
life should be a factor in making these kinds of decisions, not just whether or not the
kid is smart enough.
Eric, 19
Beverly Hills, CA USA
Yesterday /
Tomorrow |