Who determined that it was in the best interest of the child to interact with similar-aged peers? Why is it frowned upon for a younger child to hang out with an older one?
I remember clearly in my own childhood being one of a andful of native English speakers in a French-speaking town. We all went to French school and usually spent out lunches and recesses together. I had no friends in the French-speaking crowd and they didn’t have much interest in getting to know me.
One year, the principle had a ‘bright’ idea of separating the playround into different sections. Grades one and two woud have the area behind the school, grades three and four would have use of the basketball courts, while grades five and six could have the playing field. We would change ‘areas’ daily.
Since I was in grade five at the time, and my friends in Grade four, we were instantly separated and unable to play together for the rest of the school year. I spend my lunch hours and recesses alone with no one to play or talk with.
We live in a society that has an increasing disrespect for our elders. They are tossed asid and seen as a burden. Perhaps if children mixed a little more with people of all ages, they will be left with an impression of respect and awe for wht their elders have lived through.
Being segreated into classrooms based on which day you were born does not reflect real life. When you enter the workforce as an adult, or even entering the College Classroom, you will be faced with a wide diversity of people,profession and ages.
I’d prefer that my children experience the vast social connections of our society and be brought up around everyone in the community rather than being farmed into a classroom with people they’d probably otherwise have nothing to do with.
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