Is 6th Grade Too Soon For Middle School?I don't think so. But apparently many parents in the Dallas ISD area do. I was watching the local news this morning while I was waiting for Scytheboy to get ready to go, and there was a quick segment about schools in the Dallas ISD moving kids in the 6th grade to middle school. Apparently, many parents went to the Board meeting last night and were up in arms over the whole thing. One parent was on camera saying, "Kids are not ready for such a highly charged emotional environment at this age. I mean...the people that are supposed to care the most about our children are stealing their childhood." Or...something like that. But it's pretty close, trust me.
Wait...what? "Stealing their childhoods"? They're 11 and 12 for God's sake! I have never heard of 6th graders NOT being in middle school. I mean...I was. I know some areas do junior high instead of middle school and that's 7th and 8th grade...but the areas that have middle school usually start in 6th grade don't they? Or...maybe I'm wrong.
What I'm trying to say is....I have a strong suspicion that it's not the kids that aren't ready for middle school....it's the parents. These are probably the same parents that held their kids back a year before starting them in kindergarten because they "weren't ready". Whatever. They were ready. But the parents weren't. I will admit that in a few extreme cases where the kids have been highly sheltered they might not be quite ready for kindergarten, but I believe that is the fault of the parents for not getting them ready more than anything else. Just my opinion...I'm not a psychologist or anything. I'm just a parent who through the years has seen some really good parenting and also some really bad parenting on the part of my son's friends' parents.
I can say from personal experience that our son was MORE than ready for middle school. There's more freedom of choice, less coddling, and more expected of them in the way of academics, physical education and how they behave toward others and their teachers. I think sending them to middle school is a GOOD thing. Our son was miserable in elementary school, but he is thriving in middle school....in the 6th grade.
They are more than ready, my friends. More than ready. Not ready? Ridiculous.
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Comments
The young are infantilized and their parents refuse to grow old.
Rob ;-)
Posted by: SummerMan on January 29, 2006 05:17 AM
SugarPlum is in third grade right now, so this has started to be on my mind. I really see this as six of one/half dozen of the other. It depends on the school, whether it is an elementary school or a middle school.
Sure I'd like to keep her a little girl for one more year, but you are right, the opportunity to choose the classes that will best suit her is something that I look forward to. She will be fine. Perhaps because, as you said, she hasn't been coddled thus far.
Posted by: buffi on January 28, 2006 09:13 PM
I had the jr. high thing and can't say it was better or worse than the 6-7-8 middle school concept, which is what my kids have/had. They were "ready," but then I never coddled them as some mommies do. My oldest started K at age 4 when many of the other kids with fall birthdays were kept back for another year. Bah! She can compete just fine with kids a year older. I get a little nervous thinking of her going away to college at 17, but I'm sure she'll be fine there, too. Eek.
Posted by: Paula on January 27, 2006 12:46 PM
i agree with you there. kids shouldn't have a hard time adapting if parents are able to provide them with the support and encouragment needed for them to gain confidence to do anything. :)
michele says hi btw. :)
Posted by: ribbiticus on January 27, 2006 09:50 AM
