by El Zorro Viejo (aka; Jim)

As I was reading the NYT this morning, I came across this little article (Note: you'll have to log in to get to this piece. Memebership in the Times is free, so, if you're not a member already, register--can't hurt...) about "social promotions" in schools. Seems the mayor of NYC has replaced two members of the school board who were about to oppose his "strict new promotion requirements for third graders." The debate is whether repeating a grade is beneficial for the student in question. Personally, I think this is debate was answered fifty plus years ago by Dr. Maria Montessori. The answer is to put kids in classes where there is a spread of ages (i.e. 3 to 6 year olds). That allows a kid to find his/her level in the class. If it takes 4 years to accomplish what needs to be accomplished, there are still familiar faces in the room to give support and friendship. There is also no social stigma attached to being in the class one year longer. It is an approach whose time has come.

Mayor Bloomberg, that's the end of that debate.

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