Extra Credit: Trying to Make Life Fair

I walked into the second grade classroom at recess, and the teacher was still there, working on music class name tags.  (With 800 - soon to be 900 - students, name tags are critical.)  She was talkative.

"I have a new student, she's coming in from first grade.  Despite the fact she's missed half of second grade," the teacher does not sound happy.

"Um, okay.  That must make it awkward for things like math," I reply.

"Well, she's pretty good at math.  Reading though.  She doesn't even read at a first grade level."

"Yikes!"

"Yeah, you just gotta go with the flow sometimes."  Exit teacher to lounge.

Reads below a first grade level!  The decision to move this student did not come from either the first or second grade teachers.  Teachers don't move students reading below grade level mid-year.  It came from an administrator.  Now administrators don't fuck around with classroom placements mid-year, unless a parent is bothering them.

Now I got a good look at the student in question during music class.  Her stature says she's at least seven, maybe eight years old.   Undoubtedly, the family moved into the school's attendance area, and the school made its placement based on test scores.  The parents, believing all eight year-olds deserve to be in 2nd grade whether they are capable of the work or not, pitched a fit when she was put in a first grade class.  The administration, being spineless wimps who believe in equality, caved and left the poor 2nd grade teacher holding the bag.