Writer's Block: School daze

[beltainelady]

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I stayed in the same school district for my entire career. I was a smart kid, skipping first grade and going right into second. That impacted me more than I think my parents and teachers could imagine. I was able to keep up scholastically, but I was a year behind emotionally and developmentally. One year makes a HUGE difference when you're in grade school.

So, while I was confident as a smart kid, I had some social issues. I didn't have many friends that I was close to, and didn't even date in high school. Most of the people I did become friends with didn't attend my school, and the few dates I had were also from out of the area. While people liked me and there wasn't any real animosity, I just didn't fit in. I was always a little behind in the social arena.

Big impact. HUGE. I still have issues in that area, although I've since learned how to be friendly and outgoing, against my usual impulse to remain quiet and in the background.

Comments

[irenejericho.livejournal.com]

My Mom was bumped like you were--she went straight to second grade. Like you, her experience was very negative. So negative, in fact, that when the school tried to do the same thing to my sister and I, she declined.

[brock-tn.livejournal.com]

I got bumped from kindergarten to 1st grade, which in a number of ways is worse than getting bumped from 1st to 2nd. OTOH, I was an auto-didact who was reading at a 3rd-grade level when I got bumped, so I sort of understand what they were thinking.

On the whole, though, I think I'd have been happier in the long run if they hadn't bothered.

Attending three different school districts between 1st grade and graduating from high school didn't help either. However, being in one place for 8th-12th grades was pretty much OK.

[beltainelady.livejournal.com]

OTOH, I was an auto-didact who was reading at a 3rd-grade level when I got bumped, so I sort of understand what they were thinking.

I do, too. I got caught reading Little House on the Prairie, which was a 4th or 5th grade book. I remember very clearly trying to catch up in math. My school was trying a new program where they combined 1st and 2nd grades, so I had to same teachers and classmates which helped.

Things didn't get tough until everyone else hit adolescence and I didn't. I was a late bloomer to begin with, and being a year behind made it even more noticeable. Kids can be cruel.

[firespirit1.livejournal.com]

I went to school in 5 different school districts. High school all in the same place. It sucked between 5 and 6th when we moved. The only nice thing about the later moves is that they were both Pittsburgh suburbs. I was able to keep in contact with a few people I knew.

In any case, it probably made me more willing to try new and different things.