Our reply to ESL school... tell me what ya think. Too agressive?

May 13, 2008

Mr. Hubbard
Mrs. Wilson
Staff of McGregor Elementary

Dear Mr. Hubbard,
After a conversation with Mrs. Wilson regarding our decision to hold Josh and Jameson back next year, it has come to my attention that many staff members at McGregor Elementary disagree with this decision. I would like to attempt to put our feelings on paper to perhaps illuminate this decision, as well as encourage your staff to see the bigger picture.

During our discussion, the fact that Josh will be taller than his peers next year kept coming up. When I questioned Mrs. Wilson about whether we move children up according to their height or according to their academic needs, she insisted it wasn't about that. However, this discussion was about Josh and not Jameson because, according to Mrs. Wilson, Jameson has such a short stature, she wouldn't be bigger than the other children. Jameson is in the 3rd percentile for height for children her age, does that mean we should put her in the 1st grade?

Mrs. Wilson felt that she needed to "go on the record" about this decision we have made for our children. She felt that holding Josh back could affect his self concept and self esteem for years to come. Our children have watched both of their parents die in front of them. They have lived through extreme poverty and famine. They have left their caregivers and friends and have come to a country where they know little of the language, the food, or the customs. We feel that giving them an extra year to try to master some of the core concepts is absolutely nothing compared to what they have been through in their short lives. I seriously doubt if holding them back a year is what's going to cause future emotional problems.

We feel that Junior High is a time of independence; a time to stretch a little and learn to make good decisions. We feel that putting Josh in that environment, socially, could be devastating to him. Josh is still learning to be responsible for his own things, getting his homework done and turned in appropriately, even learning to make a sandwich by himself. He still requires a daily reminder to take his backpack and lunchbox to school. He is in no possible way ready for the environment of Junior High. We think it's very important to look at the whole picture when making these decisions. We understand that there is pressure to "leave no child behind," however we do not believe in celebrating mediocrity. We want our children to have the opportunity to excel and learn and not just get by and get through the system.

Our children are enrolled in summer school, and we plan on working on several of the areas we have identified that they are behind in, but we stand firm in our decision to allow Josh to "grow" socially, emotionally, and academically another year before sending him to a Junior High environment. We appreciate the professional opinions we have received, but we feel strongly that 6 weeks is not enough time to complete the fifth grade. We would request support in this decision with the understanding that we are the parents, and ultimately we are the ones responsible for these children.


Sincerely,
Jeff and Gina Ellerbee