I watched 'Go Tigers!' tonight for the first time in a long time and it got me thinking about the Massillon's practice of holding kids back in eighth grade. I know it has happened elsewhere - Brock Bolen from Valley View comes to mind - but is is really something that goes on a lot?

And to clarify, I'm not talking about holding kids back before kindergarten. Those situations are commonplace because some youngsters aren't ready from a maturity standpoint. Holding back an eighth grader who isn't struggling in school is just a different animal to me.

Thoughts?

kayo wrote: I watched 'Go Tigers!' tonight for the first time in a long time and it got me thinking about the Massillon's practice of holding kids back in eighth grade. I know it has happened elsewhere - Brock Bolen from Valley View comes to mind - but is is really something that goes on a lot?

And to clarify, I'm not talking about holding kids back before kindergarten. Those situations are commonplace because some youngsters aren't ready from a maturity standpoint. Holding back an eighth grader who isn't struggling in school is just a different animal to me.

Thoughts?

Everyone makes this sound like Massillon holds back 35 kids in the Eighth grade so they will be better in football. Just not true. It is up to the parents and there are different reasons to hold a child back. Athletics is just one of them.

I would say, on average, Massillon used to have 2-4 kids a class "hold back". It's not like the entire team is made up of hold backs. Maturity and size play a big role in why some parents hold back. Birthdays are another reason.

I had one son graduate at 17 and another at 19 (graduated on his birthday). The reason the second boy was held back was because of what my wife and I learned with the first one. He graduated a year ahead his age group, went to college and was no where near as prepared emotionally as he should have been. Held the second son back so he would be better prepared for college. It worked...not nearly the problems in college the first son had.

Believe me it's not ALL about sports...although many people think so, especially if it happens in Massillon.

Come on. I would say 99.96% of hold backs (red shirts) are for athletics.
I was 17 when I graduated and often wonder what would have been if I had an extra yr of hs.
I often said if I had to do it over again...
Well It never clouded my judgement on my sons. I kept them right where they should be with their own classmates. Never started them late or held them back. I let God take his course!

Go on a wrestling thread and you'll see some of this stuff.

Oh it happens everywhere and it's stupid, IMO. Could it help a kids performance by being a year older and more mature? sure. But I think it's silly in the long run.

We had a kid back home (southern ohio) that was a straight-A student and was held back in 8th grade. Oh, and he went to Princeton after graduation. I doubt that had a lot to do with repeating eighth grade. It was all about sports performance.

I'll take "People with severely misplaced priorities" for $500, Alex.

My parents held me back after kindergarten, the teacher said I was able to move on, but felt I would be behind in all my classes, and need more help, so she suggested me being held back. I was a 4.0 student after that, and I think it really helped me athletically too, although that was not the sole reason for me being held back, seeing I was 6 lol, but I do feel like I had an advantage on the athletic field.

I don't like it...

queencitybuckeye wrote: I'll take "People with severely misplaced priorities" for $500, Alex.

+1

^^^^^^^

+2

IF you had an 8th grade athlete who was not only good in sports, but enjoyed playing them. The rules allow you to do this because of his age and birthday. You would consider doing it. End of discussion. A scholorship is worth est 75K. If otherwise you couldnt afford his college, how is this a bad thing? You are giving him a better chance. I rarely agree with massillon arguements but this time IF it isnt your child you have no right to criticize the parents that do this.

september63 wrote: IF you had an 8th grade athlete who was not only good in sports, but enjoyed playing them. The rules allow you to do this because of his age and birthday. You would consider doing it. End of discussion. A scholorship is worth est 75K. If otherwise you couldnt afford his college, how is this a bad thing? You are giving him a better chance. I rarely agree with massillon arguements but this time IF it isnt your child you have no right to criticize the parents that do this.

This isn't a "Massillon argument". My goodness you talk more about Massillon than you do about Dover.

Humpty Dumpty wrote:

kayo wrote: I watched 'Go Tigers!' tonight for the first time in a long time and it got me thinking about the Massillon's practice of holding kids back in eighth grade. I know it has happened elsewhere - Brock Bolen from Valley View comes to mind - but is is really something that goes on a lot?

And to clarify, I'm not talking about holding kids back before kindergarten. Those situations are commonplace because some youngsters aren't ready from a maturity standpoint. Holding back an eighth grader who isn't struggling in school is just a different animal to me.

Thoughts?



This is why i brought up massillon. replying to him...............back off when I trying to stick up for ya!!

Everyone makes this sound like Massillon holds back 35 kids in the Eighth grade so they will be better in football. Just not true. It is up to the parents and there are different reasons to hold a child back. Athletics is just one of them.

I would say, on average, Massillon used to have 2-4 kids a class "hold back". It's not like the entire team is made up of hold backs. Maturity and size play a big role in why some parents hold back. Birthdays are another reason.

I had one son graduate at 17 and another at 19 (graduated on his birthday). The reason the second boy was held back was because of what my wife and I learned with the first one. He graduated a year ahead his age group, went to college and was no where near as prepared emotionally as he should have been. Held the second son back so he would be better prepared for college. It worked...not nearly the problems in college the first son had.

Believe me it's not ALL about sports...although many people think so, especially if it happens in Massillon.

Oops, the above post was why i brought Massillon ino this story.

Also, if you have to hold your kid back for a year to gain a competitive edge---then he obviously doesn't have the talent to go pro anyway.

I graduated at age 19, in a way being held back. My situation was different in that I attended school in Chicago and was in 3rd grade at the time, when we moved to Ohio midway through the year (Actually we were moving back to Ohio). I enrolled in Dublin schools and my parents were told what I was being thought in Chicago in 3rd grade was basically 2nd grade material in Dublin/Ohio schools. So I went back to the 2nd grade, basically doing a year and half of each 2nd and 3rd grades.

At that level it wasn't for sports of course. I eventually moved to Columbus City Schools the next school year (3rd grade) and was basically ahead of nearly everyone up until graduation. Could have graduated my junior year if I so choose to do so, but didn't want to miss my senior year. Ended up playing five sports in HS.

In the end I received a full academic scholarship to Ohio Dominican University ($33,000/year education). So yea it probably did help on the academic side, but not the athletic side. I think in most cases its just a coincidence that kids are being held back. As a parent you have to be borderline stupid to hold your child back for anything other than academic and maturity reasons. Sports is not a reason.

september63 wrote: IF you had an 8th grade athlete who was not only good in sports, but enjoyed playing them. The rules allow you to do this because of his age and birthday. You would consider doing it. End of discussion. A scholorship is worth est 75K. If otherwise you couldnt afford his college, how is this a bad thing? You are giving him a better chance. I rarely agree with massillon arguements but this time IF it isnt your child you have no right to criticize the parents that do this.

I would? I just went thru this last yr since my son is a frosh.
The discussion came up because he had to wrestle kids that were sometimes almost 2 yrs older than him as an 8th grader. He asked why kids would stay back in ms if they are supposed to go to hs.
I told him why and he thought that was sort of cheating but he didn't want any part of it. I wanted to see what his reaction was and I was glad to hear his response. How in the world could I possibly hold him back being an honor student taking AP classes. I don't think the school would go for it either.
BTW he LOVES playing sports and played 4 different sports during ms.

As a parent there is no way in heck I would ever do that to my kid.

My sons birtday is Aug 29. The cutoff for his class was Sep 1. He was the youngest kid in his class and started college while he was still 17. I never thought about it when he was entering grade school but I probally should have held him back for academic reasons. He did fine though and played in 2 state championship games. It all worked out. I can understand both sides of the coin though.

september63 wrote: IF you had an 8th grade athlete who was not only good in sports, but enjoyed playing them. The rules allow you to do this because of his age and birthday. You would consider doing it. End of discussion.

I wouldn't give it a minute's thought.

We actually had a parent approach us at a fundraiser a year or so ago about our opinion on his kid repeating the 8th grade because he just turned 14 going in to the 9th grade. He claimed his son wanted to stay in the 8th grade because of the maturity issues. Well, we didn't touch that one, and the parent decided to keep his kid in the 9th grade. After coaching the kid during one of the sports, IMO, he should have stayed in the 8th grade and matured. It is a double edged sword, for sure.

If the kid stuggles academically and is immature mentally would you? Now that same kid is not a great athlete but holding him back will help him both atletically and academically, would you? Now that kid is the biggest kid in his class 6'1 250. Should he go on to HS and stuggle both socally and academically? What if the kid has come to you and asked to be held back?

queencitybuckeye wrote: I'll take "People with severely misplaced priorities" for $500, Alex.

+3

Preacher wrote: If the kid stuggles academically and is immature mentally would you? Now that same kid is not a great athlete but holding him back will help him both atletically and academically, would you? Now that kid is the biggest kid in his class 6'1 250. Should he go on to HS and stuggle both socally and academically? What if the kid has come to you and asked to be held back?

Totally different. This thread is about the athletic reason.

^^^^
I agree but when the above situation is implemented people assume he is being held back for athletic decisions.

Cthelites wrote:

september63 wrote: IF you had an 8th grade athlete who was not only good in sports, but enjoyed playing them. The rules allow you to do this because of his age and birthday. You would consider doing it. End of discussion. A scholorship is worth est 75K. If otherwise you couldnt afford his college, how is this a bad thing? You are giving him a better chance. I rarely agree with massillon arguements but this time IF it isnt your child you have no right to criticize the parents that do this.

I would? I just went thru this last yr since my son is a frosh.
The discussion came up because he had to wrestle kids that were sometimes almost 2 yrs older than him as an 8th grader. He asked why kids would stay back in ms if they are supposed to go to hs.
I told him why and he thought that was sort of cheating but he didn't want any part of it. I wanted to see what his reaction was and I was glad to hear his response. How in the world could I possibly hold him back being an honor student taking AP classes. I don't think the school would go for it either.
BTW he LOVES playing sports and played 4 different sports during ms.

It doesn't matter now, he is wrestling against kids his weight and they could be 3-4 years older.