Primary Two Year Prep Program at Mill Park

[Messenger]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/s...s-push-for-two-years-prep-20110827-1jfs3.html

This is interesting for a number of reasons:

* Economic imperative to put child in school
* Inability to access a second year of funding for kindergarten
* Stigma attached to "repeating" a year.

My boy will be due to start Prep in 2012, but will turn five next March. He is academically ready we are told, but we have been working on the social side with some progress. He is going through an orientation program at the local PS and so far so good.

I'd be interested to hear the experiences of others in the boat. Guidance gratefully accepted.

 

[bomberdude18 2]

It's an interesting topic to discuss. Each child and each case is different. Personally I don't mind a bit of innovation in schools. Gives parents the opportunity to choose a school that is the best fit for their kid. Because different styles of schools are better for some kids as opposed to others.

I started prep early - turning 5 during February of prep and I'm very thankful that I started when I did. I'm one year ahead in my life now compared to if i'd waited another year.

But having recently completed teaching rounds in a P-2 class, i've come to the conclusion that young preps who are immature and not ready for school are a real pain in the arse and take away the learning opportunities for other students.

 

[gandaal]

Formalised repeating of all preps over two years comes from a complete misunderstanding and ignorance of what prep children can achieve. While there are always some who just aren't ready for school and really require the social, languages and academic program they receive in prep there are also others who are more than ready for the next step up. I had five kids at the end of last year reading Harry potter and similar novels, and they all began the year with some recognition of letters and little else. Why would you hold them back, or the others who were reading at or above the end of year prep standard?

Our educational philosophy should be to push and extend our children, to give them opportunities to grow. Mandatory repeating of prep sounds more like stagnation and regression to me.