Quote Originally Posted by Bluetree

...The USC professor was first inspired to research this matter when he faced it as a parent.
“As my first child was about to enter kindergarten, I heard a lot from parents and school officials that children with summer birthdays, especially boys, would benefit from having a ‘year to grow’ before they start school,” Painter said. “This could give them an academic advantage and prevent them from falling behind.
“I decided that I would study this and find out if there were any academic differences in the long term,” he said. “But despite the fact that these children were a year older than their comparison group, they did not do any better.”

Delaying Kindergarten Has No Benefits
09/07/06
There are few advantages for children who wait a year to enter school, according to USC and Texas researchers.
http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/12716.html
I read the article, and it's hard to argue with their findings, but gee whiz,
after forcing 2 boys through elementary school, I am totally convinced that there HAS to be a better way. Maybe it's different for girls, but right now
we're drugging a giant percentage of children (mostly boys) just so that they can endure the long long sits. Boys need to jump and run and kick and punch
and yell... In school all they are supposed to do is sit and be quiet. I guess
the drugs help this.
My poor sons had to do it all without the drugs. and they drove their teachers and me crazy.
I think they'd be better off to not go to traditional school before they were 10. they could be in "boot camp" or something like that first.
classes for boys under ten:
treeclimbing 101
bike riding
first aide
orienteering
sign language
building with sticks
karate
no sitting down until they are 10 years old.
ah, i can dream can't i?