[ballfan87]

I held my son who is now a junior back in 6th grade..after 2 years of debating the issue and with assistance of guidance counselors. He was about 5ft and weighed 70 pounds and had very low self esteem During his 5th grade year.. he had over 40 zeros and but still had average grades. I held him back in 6th grade ..and sure at this point at this size it was a joke if any one thought it was football related. He was not happy at first.. but he flourished with the change he became confident and a leader in his class because he was older.. his birthday is in May with the school cut off date being Oct 1. He will turn 19 in May of his Senior year and graduate the same month. He also grew and is an excellent athlete as well.. now at 6'0 and about 180 he is also a heck of ball player for LC. Teachers since then have told me this was such a good decision and how much it helped him mature. Parents look at your kids and make decisions based on what they are telling you with grades, actions, esteem issues etc. I do think though as as been common on some of the schools allowing students to hold back for 2 years his too much. That seems as if only for athletics and creates many social issues when you have a young man approaching 20 his senior year of high school and with much younger kids in same school as young as 14. Just my opinion in our situation.. it gave me a mature young man I am very proud of.