Originally Posted by MonetFan
I sometimes see whole grade acceleration in this same light, as we're pushing kids to get to the drudgery of the adult world far sooner than they need to.
Or we could look at it as opening up the world of post-secondary education, travel, and life experience sooner. Graduating (or just leaving, for some of us) high school earlier does not necessarily mean moving into the adult world of work earlier.

But to your main point: I agree that childhood is precious and evanescent, and should be preserved as long as reasonable and practical, all other things being equal.

...pronounced like the long vowel and first letter of the alphabet...