I don't understand grade skipping....why they don't do it anymore..

[Sumguy]

lol...I was given the option to skip grades in elementary. My response was "Why? I'd just finish school earlier to work sooner..."

The principal looked kinda shocked and just started to laugh.

Finished fine anyway, just took a shitload of APs in high school to get rid of a lot of the bullshit college credits I needed. Only thing I would change are the science/math classes I took. Kinda sucks going into physics with calculus without ever taking highschool level physics and completing the three series of calculus in two semesters and a summer term.

 

[Leros]

We had some kids who skipped a grade ahead. They were smart, but it always socially awkward for the two of them. They never really fit it and always hung out with themselves.

We also had some kids who should have skipped, but didn't. They were a bit bored in the early years, but they turned out fine. Better than the kids who skipped, in my opinion.

 

[Fox5]

My school didn't skip kids ahead a grade, but it could hold you back.

However, we had advanced classes on a case by case basis. If you did well enough, you could skip ahead up to 2 grade levels in just about any subject, but you wouldn't be skipped ahead for every class. And there would usually be enough kids of one year to put them in a more advanced class together.

 

[Capt Caveman]

It pisses me off that they do not allow for grade skipping anymore like they used to in the 50s and early 60s. They used to do grade skipping because a student was academically advanced and or "gifted" and wanted to have the student at the appropriate academic level. Apparently, they stopped grade skipping because while the students were academically advanced, they were not "equally socially mature".. Now, hows this for a question: If a student is socially advanced but not academically advanced, should you let them skip a grade? They abstained from skipping grades because of their concerns for the students not being socially advanced, but if they are socially advanced but not academically advanced? Or is it, unless they're both, then there isn't a point.. But then you could say, what about the slow students? Why do they get to be in that grade if they're below average?

How do you know that skipping grades was more prevalent in the 50s and 60s? And why do you care? It's not like you would qualify either way.

 

[DrPizza]

It pisses me off that they do not allow for grade skipping anymore like they used to in the 50s and early 60s.

Other than parents who think their kid is really smart, or kids who think they're really smart, I can't think of anyone else that this would concern. Since the OP isn't a parent...

Hmmmm.... 9th grade, wants to skip to 11th grade??

 

[shortylickens]

The OP needs to read a book called "The Self Esteem Trap. Raising confidant and compassionate kids in an age of self-importance."

The book discusses MANY issues but one of the most important is: There are 3 types of maturity. Emotional, physical, and intellectual. Not all 3 advance at the same rate. And each kid is slightly different from one another.

The reason they advanced kids back in the 50's and 60's was they didnt understand this concept. Nowadays if a kid seems to be doing really well the system would be better off challenging him in other ways, but NOT by pushing him beyond his levels.

Of course, a completely seperate issue is that the schools arent doing a good job all around, and all kids need to be challenged more.

 

[SunSamurai]

There was this 14yr old kid in my physics class when I went to my JC.
He was homeschooled for elementary school but did middle school to get some public school experience, and he just took a test to get his high school diploma.
He didn't seem socially immature and still made quite a few friends. If anything, he's more socially mature from not hanging out with 14yr old tards. Is that missing out on childhood? Maybe if you wanna be a 14yr old tard.

Pretty much this.

I dont get people and their "missing childhood" bullshit. Like its some mystical land. I think its more that people are projecting their own lament about being young again and their own regrets. Its MUCH more rich and rewarding to have the chance to be surrounded by more intelligent people, regardless of age.

If he wanted to, there are PLENTY of places to meet kids around his age out of a school setting.

 

[SunSamurai]

Other than parents who think their kid is really smart, or kids who think they're really smart, I can't think of anyone else that this would concern. Since the OP isn't a parent...

Hmmmm.... 9th grade, wants to skip to 11th grade??

It concerns anyone concerned with their own future. Who do you think is going to control the world in 20 years? The children entering middle school and high school NOW.

 

[Exodist]

It pisses me off that they do not allow for grade skipping anymore like they used to in the 50s and early 60s. They used to do grade skipping because a student was academically advanced and or "gifted" and wanted to have the student at the appropriate academic level. Apparently, they stopped grade skipping because while the students were academically advanced, they were not "equally socially mature".. Now, hows this for a question: If a student is socially advanced but not academically advanced, should you let them skip a grade? They abstained from skipping grades because of their concerns for the students not being socially advanced, but if they are socially advanced but not academically advanced? Or is it, unless they're both, then there isn't a point.. But then you could say, what about the slow students? Why do they get to be in that grade if they're below average?

I agree, also that same argument can be turned around on the school if they wish to hold someone back as well.

 

[Bignate603]

It pisses me off that they do not allow for grade skipping anymore like they used to in the 50s and early 60s. They used to do grade skipping because a student was academically advanced and or "gifted" and wanted to have the student at the appropriate academic level. Apparently, they stopped grade skipping because while the students were academically advanced, they were not "equally socially mature".. Now, hows this for a question: If a student is socially advanced but not academically advanced, should you let them skip a grade? They abstained from skipping grades because of their concerns for the students not being socially advanced, but if they are socially advanced but not academically advanced? Or is it, unless they're both, then there isn't a point.. But then you could say, what about the slow students? Why do they get to be in that grade if they're below average?

Well, we know that you' aren't going to be skipping any grades so why do you really care?

 

[GeekDrew]

I went to school with a kid that was advanced by 1 grade... but as for book smarts, they should have advanced him by 3-4 grades.

He was an outcast (for the most part), and very few people got along with him. They'd make fun of him because of his age, because he hadn't hit puberty yet (didn't help that he was later than most even for his age), and for anything else that they could think of. I tried to be his friend for the longest while, but I got tired of trying: I realized that they were making fun of him because he was a total fucking jerk, was rubbing his book-smarts in everyone's face, thought he knew everything, and was frequently incorrect when discussing "average, every-day" things (like cars, which type of fuels will run better in which vehicles, how to drive on ice, etc). They'd be correct most of the time, from a strictly technical and textbook standpoint -- but the theories never worked out, and when people told them of their experiences, he wouldn't hear any of it. He had to see it for himself; if he saw something that he wasn't expecting, he'd write a paper on it, make a big deal of it, and everyone else would hate him even more for making a big deal about something that everyone else already knew.

It reminds me a lot of fleabag (which is why I used those specific examples of discussion -- both fleabag and my former friend had argued endlessly about them). I felt sorry for my friend, because nobody could get him to realize that he just needed to calm the hell down and go with the flow -- a good dose of humility would have helped him make many friends.

 

[Bl0cks]

You can finish High School in 3 years.

 

[zerocool84]

I skipped a grade when I was a young buck but it was nothing special. I skipped kindergarten cus I could already read well. I wasn't much younger than everyone else that was there.

 

[Exterous]

I remember subbing for a second grade class and the teacher told me the student should be in fourth grade because of how intelligent he was, but she was "concerned" he wouldn't fit in with other student. I hate that shit. Then they shove all the retards in with the other students and hold everyone back.

Schools also won't hold kids back for this reason. It doesn't matter if they suck at math and are retarded.

The school my wife teaches at does that too. A student failed Spanish I but they let him go ahead and take Spanish II. They don't like to make the kids feel bad about not doing well in school. Oddly enough he is failing Spanish II (Something about not having any basics of the language and refusing to show up for extra help after school). Sadly she will most likely see him in Spanish III next semester. I can only imagine what wonderful life skills this is teaching him.....

 

[TallBill]

My parents could have had me skip a grade, I'm so glad that they didn't. Unless you're an uber-genious the one extra year of development really helps with athletics and other social aspects of being a student.

 

[SunSamurai]

The school my wife teaches at does that too. A student failed Spanish I but they let him go ahead and take Spanish II. They don't like to make the kids feel bad about not doing well in school. Oddly enough he is failing Spanish II (Something about not having any basics of the language and refusing to show up for extra help after school). Sadly she will most likely see him in Spanish III next semester. I can only imagine what wonderful life skills this is teaching him.....

Que?

 

[gorcorps]

They still advance kids when they deserve it.

 

[zerocool84]

It seems like fleabag doesn't understand a lot of things.

 

[fleabag]

I went to school with a kid that was advanced by 1 grade... but as for book smarts, they should have advanced him by 3-4 grades.

He was an outcast (for the most part), and very few people got along with him. They'd make fun of him because of his age, because he hadn't hit puberty yet (didn't help that he was later than most even for his age), and for anything else that they could think of. I tried to be his friend for the longest while, but I got tired of trying: I realized that they were making fun of him because he was a total fucking jerk, was rubbing his book-smarts in everyone's face, thought he knew everything, and was frequently incorrect when discussing "average, every-day" things (like cars, which type of fuels will run better in which vehicles, how to drive on ice, etc). They'd be correct most of the time, from a strictly technical and textbook standpoint -- but the theories never worked out, and when people told them of their experiences, he wouldn't hear any of it. He had to see it for himself; if he saw something that he wasn't expecting, he'd write a paper on it, make a big deal of it, and everyone else would hate him even more for making a big deal about something that everyone else already knew.

It reminds me a lot of fleabag (which is why I used those specific examples of discussion -- both fleabag and my former friend had argued endlessly about them). I felt sorry for my friend, because nobody could get him to realize that he just needed to calm the hell down and go with the flow -- a good dose of humility would have helped him make many friends.

Could you troll any harder?

 

[GeekDrew]

Could you troll any harder?

I'm being 100% serious. I won't reveal my friend's name online, but I know that anyone that I went to high school with would instantly know who I'm talking about, and would agree.

 

[fleabag]

I'm being 100% serious. I won't reveal my friend's name online, but I know that anyone that I went to high school with would instantly know who I'm talking about, and would agree.

I'm sure you are and I'm also sure that you were trolling. You want to bring up experiences, that's fine but don't think you can compare me to defective people you know and not be trolling..

 

[yottabit]

I feel kids should certainly be allowed to skip grades but there needs to be some consideration of maturity. I was really bored through kindergarten and the first couple grades and scored genius on some IQ tests. My parents and I had to choose if I should skip ahead grade(s) or go to a special school. I remember driving hours to check out these schools and I just didn't fit in with the kids there at all. Because I was already basically the youngest in my grade, we agreed to not send me forward and I remained with my class.

Unfortunately I got screwed out of taking part of the advanced math program at my jr. high school because I went to a private elementary school that didn't give me the placement test. So I was really bored in all my math classes from then on. I was a straight A student through middle school to about Sophomore year, when I just got so bored I stopped really trying. I also ended up taking a year off after High School, so now I'm about a year older than everyone in my college classes.

Would it have been nice to have been on the fast track for school? Yes, but I can't say I would have done anything differently in retrospect because I like the way things worked out. What amazes me was my friend Vickas who was in my AP Chem class senior year.

He was a junior and had already taken Calc III and other advanced math classes at a local college. He applied to go to Boston University, and got in, skipping senior year of high school because he already had more than enough credits to graduate. So now he's a year ahead of me... but he's a really down to earth and funny kid, and definitely never complained about it. I think a lot of it is about personality and varies from person to person... I don't think skipping ahead too far would've been right for me.

 

[GeekDrew]

I'm sure you are and I'm also sure that you were trolling. You want to bring up experiences, that's fine but don't think you can compare me to defective people you know and not be trolling..

Define trolling.

I've experience w/ my old friend IRL. I've experienced you bothering tremendous numbers of people online. The conversations between my two experiences have been nearly identical. Why can't I draw a conclusion based on my experiences? I may be wrong, but I doubt it.

 

[MrPickins]

They may not allow grade skipping as much anymore, but it is quite easy (in Texas at least) to just graduate a full year early like I did.

I can vouch for that.

They didn't let me skip a grade in elementary school because they didn't want my twin sister to feel left back.

Then she ended up graduating a year earlier than me...

 

[coloumb]

Homeschooling FTW?