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

[Anna V]

On 24 Nov 2005 at 14:47, Deidree McMaster wrote:
> 
> Kristy:  I put this to our list and got this response so far:
> 

Ummmmmm, did you ask Kristy's permission before posting a 
message sent here to another list?


> 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.
> 

Nonsense!  That's not an argument against acceleration or ability 
grouping.  My children are both on the 3rd percentile (and my 
older son just reached that from being on the 1st percentile for 
several years) and if I believe that, then my kids should be in 
grades years lower than they are ;)


> 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.
> 

For some kids, sure.  For other kids, not necessarily.


> 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.
> 

which again is not an argument for sticking with the status quo.

> 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.
> 

Has this person read any research on this subject?


> 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.
> 

but only in childhood do we group people arbitrarily by age.

> Cheers,
> -T           tennessee at tennessee.id.au
> 

I am happy to continue discussion with this person if they join the 
list -- I do not want my post sent off list.  Thanks.


> 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!

Very strange.  But schools are strange places.

anna