| For lots of kids, all across the United States, | | | | Sally's birthday is September 28, when she will |
| turning 5 is a coming of age. They are now old | | | | turn 5. She'll still be only 4 when school starts. |
| enough to go to school! They can attend | | | | Judy's birthday was January 28, and she's been 5 |
| Kindergarten, and now, they are big kids! No more | | | | for over 6 months now.) can have a harder time |
| preschool, naptime, or blankies. It's the big time. | | | | learning to "school" than others who are older and |
| For future Memphis schools students, their first | | | | more mature. |
| day of Kindergarten may just have to wait a bit. | | | | Emotional maturity is perhaps the most important |
| Legislators are considering a change in the | | | | thing to consider. A child who isn't ready to start |
| necessary birth date a child must have in order to | | | | Kindergarten at Memphis City may have a harder |
| attend kindergarten at all Tennessee schools, | | | | time adjusting to the new life of "school kid". |
| including Memphis schools. Currently, the cutoff is | | | | Crying, separation anxiety, discipline or behavior |
| September 30. The proposal would change that | | | | problems and even toileting and shoe-tying ought |
| date to September 1. | | | | to be considered for these future students of |
| While many children will be disappointed (as will | | | | Memphis schools. |
| there parents), it is a sound idea. Students | | | | Of course, there are always exceptions to every |
| attending Memphis schools have high standards to | | | | rule, and there are four-year-olds out there who |
| achieve, and starting school too early, in some | | | | are vastly more mature than their five-year-old |
| cases, can actually set them back. They can | | | | peers. This can be due to any number of things; |
| struggle throughout their Memphis schools | | | | gender, birth order, and their parents' level of |
| careers, and starting a little later, when they are | | | | completed education all contribute to a child's social |
| more mature can make all the difference. This is | | | | and emotional maturity. Even the age of the |
| especially true for students hoping to attend | | | | parents as well as the influence of extended |
| Memphis schools which mostly serve the urban | | | | family can impact a child's maturity level. |
| area of Memphis, Tennessee. Students from | | | | It seems to me that the best solution for rising |
| lower socioeconomic backgrounds have been | | | | Kindergartners of Memphis schools would be to |
| proven to be less prepared for school than their | | | | set an optional date. Perhaps students could be |
| richer counterparts. Their parents may be working | | | | admitted to Kindergarten if they meet the |
| two jobs, with little time or energy left to spend | | | | September 1st birthday requirement, and a |
| getting Junior ready to start a Kindergarten | | | | screening process could be instituted for those |
| program in Memphis. | | | | future students of Memphis schools that may be |
| Whether or not this is applicable, it is a fact that | | | | ready to enter Kindergarten in Memphis schools |
| kids who start out the school year at Memphis | | | | but have a later birthday in the month of |
| schools younger than their peers (For instance, | | | | September. |