[Oz-gifted] Re: oz-gifted Digest, 1. Ability grouping (Kristy)

[Deidree McMaster]

On 24/11/2005, at 1:02 PM, oz-gifted-request at rite.ed.qut.edu.au wrote:

> I dont know enough about this but would like to see if anyone has some
> input.
>
> We would never consider age grouping of kids for many area's, swimming 
> as an
> example, so why is it so important to age group for education 
> purposes? I
> understand the social aspects that are thrown around often but dont 
> feel
> this should be a deciding factor. My eldest is the youngest in his 
> class but
> friends with the eldest. Its a MAG grouped class so the eldest are 
> actually
> 2 years older than him. I feel sometimes they underestimate the social
> abilities of many children and that given the chance they will find 
> friends
> whether they are in the same class or not.
>
> Wouldnt ability grouping make it easier on teachers? If they only need 
> to
> cater for similar ability students programming should be an easier 
> process.
>
> The argument of having role models for those on the lower end of the 
> scale
> can be countered by stating that ability grouping would allow those 
> children
> to excel within their group instead of constantly being at the lower 
> end of
> a class.
>
> I am sure there are many reasons why this wouldnt be possible. I guess 
> I am
> more curious to know if it has ever been considered or if it is used 
> at all.
> Makes a whole lot more sense to me than age grouping of kids.
>
> Thanks
> Kristy

Kristy:  I put this to our list and got this response so far:

I am basically in favour of age grouping. I think (especially for boys) 
it is simply a mistake to underestimate the social dynamics and 
physical prowess implications. No matter how smart, a young boy will be 
pilloried by brawnier colleagues during those formative years.

Never having been a little girl, I don't know that side of the fence 
very well. However, I think social structures still form around age and 
development to a large extent.

And, frankly, we do have age grouping for swimming. In my school, we 
competed in school sports by class which gave an effective age 
grouping. I struggle to think of anything done at primary school which 
was not so structured.

For better or worse, "normal" means diversity. Just because someone 
might be able to exceed ones peers academically does not set you above 
them socially, physically or in term of maturity.

I would promote some degree of class streaming perhaps, and the joining 
of extra curricular interest groups in order to give young minds 
something to work on. However, people should realise their common 
ground, and that is achieved by interaction.

Cheers,
-T           tennessee at tennessee.id.au

Whereas I, a girl, yearned for more stimulation.  I remember forming a 
friendship with a girl 3 classes ahead of me in early high school, and 
the teachers actually forbade it:  very strange!

Deidree