Once in a while I read a book that has a real profound
effect on me, one that changes the course of my life and how I am going to
educate my son. This profound moment
came after reading the first chapter of the Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. I saw my sons first 12 years of education differently, and I realized what a
disadvantage my son has. The premise of
the chapter was about hockey players and how
the majority of the best players
were born in the first quarter of the year.
No it was not that winter babies were better physically, but that the
cut off for leagues was Dec 31 and if you were born Jan. 1 you had to wait a full year to play. Well that is a full year a child has to
mature and develop. Then it leads to the
fact that these children were viewed as more talented, and children
viewed as more talented get better training and more ice time, which makes them
even better. I noticed this same thing
to a point when my son played hockey, the better the child was at hockey, the
more ice time they played. The stronger
gets stronger and the weak then get ignored.
After reading this and internalizing it I realized what a
huge disadvantage my son had, my son was born July 31, just one month from the
cut off! He was only five by 2 weeks when
on the first day of school! There had
already been many studies showing up about the advantages that girls have over
boys in school, now look at a fall born girl over my summer born boy! You just could not compare the 2, it was an
unfair disadvantage!!! I know, your
puzzled, because I homeschool, what does
it actually matter ?!? Plus my boy was
reading at 3 and advanced in math. Well,
it WILL matter later in his education.
So I marched in and demanded that we “red shirt” my son. What is “red shirting”, it is a little trick
of waiting a extra year to enroll your child in school, giving your kid one more year to mature. But
they would not let me do this, I think schools actually frown on this method
because usually only the educated parents use it.
BUT I learned something new I could do!!! Keep in mind that my boy will be 17 when he
graduates from high school on his current path, and personally that is way to
young to send him off into the real world.
So I learned about a NEW IDEA!
Give him 5 years of High School!!!
I could be wrong, and please leave a comment on my blog, but there is no
where on the college application asking if you did high school in five years,
my son will just be a regular senior!
Think about it!!!
Really think, especially if you are fiercely competitive like me and
really wish for your child to have a chance at going to an elite university
;) If you have a summer child like I do,
our kids have a big disadvantage, and we can even up the odds. Summer children are underrepresented in
college! They are forced to compete with
children older, socially/emotionally more mature, physically more mature, and
cognitively more mature! When you are 5
years old , 11 months makes a huge difference developmentally!!! The older children get treated like they are
smarter and more mature, while the younger child who can be just as intelligent
will not be treated as well. Leaving a
younger child feeling inferior and that can last their whole school career. Even IF your child is gifted, there are other
gifted children in your child’s grade all across the country, born 11 months earlier! And if you love sports, image how much more
mature a fall child is to the summer child.
It is simply not fair to put such a wide group of children together and
expect fairness! But there is a way to
get around it and even up the odds if you’re willing to put in an extra year!
Few points to consider.
1. 1. ` Students today can go to college and high school
at the same. There are programs like
running start. Getting the advanced math
and science classes are easier to aquire and will continue to become easier as
home schooling continues to grow. They
can take a language class and it can count as college credit too.
2. 2. Think SAT and ACT scores, giving your student one more year will
increase their scores. If you have a
gifted student, can you image what another year will do. My intention is for my child to get into Air
Force Academy , MIT or Harvard. With one
more year to raise his scores, it should really help to increase his chances in
getting into these schools.
3. 3. Sports, are you looking at getting your child’s
college paid for with scholarships?
Giving them one more year to grow and mature will help them to get into
leadership or captain positions.
4. 4. We are working towards a goal of earning an Eagle Scout award, black belt in
Karate, accomplished musician, etc. etc. This will give him one more year to
boost their college application.
5. 5. One more year to emotionally and socially
mature. They will have another year tomature and be
able to handle life on their own.
It
is just a thought, think out of the box.
If you have a spring or summer child, our kids are at a great
disadvantage. I am not one to cry in my
beer, but instead to seize control of the situation and do what is best for my
child’s future!!! I joke around with my
kids that I am going to do the absolute best that I can do now, because they
are going to be the ones to pay for my old folks home. Thankfully I know that they love me very much
and know that there has never been anything I would not do for them .
No comments:
Post a Comment