I have not observed much flexibility in the school system. Few MA public schools have gifted programs or guidelines for whole grade or subject acceleration, so I don't see many alternatives to starting gifted children in KG early. Typically one needs to keep them in a private school through grade 1 before transitioning to public school.
I really don't understand the lack of flexibility/one-size-fits-all approach in so many schools, whether the issue is when to start, time needed to master material, or skipping a grade/staying back. Everything else in the world is "sized": cars, clothes, shoes, houses, pens, crayons, everything. Why is school different?
To me, the US public school system (and some private schools, to be fair) is less about learning environments and more about applying industrial methods to education.
Oh well.
As for the gift of time, my kids will get it when they graduate: for example, the eldest will finish school at 16 and will have two years to use as he pleases (within reason). Internships, community college classes, sports, a p/t job, etc. etc. Sounds great to me. Why would educators be so against something like this?
Val
