Kindergarten readiness varies with each child

Kindergarten readiness varies with each child
EDITOR:
All public schools in our area have pre-kindergarten screening, which is used to determine the individual child's readiness for kindergarten; academically, physically and emotionally. This is the only point that the child's unique abilities are considered. Unfortunately, regardless of how ready the child is for kindergarten, as determined by the screening, a cut-off date is imposed that will keep young but capable children out, but allow less-ready, older children in. This totally invalidates the screening process.
Although I understand the need to set guidelines for the admission process, and do not disagree with the idea that children generally achieve certain levels of readiness at certain stages, imposing cut-off dates without any flexibility, does a huge disservice to those who are exceptions to the rule.
As an educator and a mother of a child who entered kindergarten before her fifth birthday, I speak with a unique understanding of the challenge faced by our schools and by parents of school-age children. We have made the curriculum far more demanding, and we need to admit children into our schools with that in mind. But we must also allow for differences in children. Not every child will neatly and conveniently be "not ready" if born after the imposed cut-off date. Nor will admitting a ready child, younger than the cut-off age, necessarily result in poor self-esteem or place the child at risk academically or emotionally. A good self-concept and emotional security were not values we waited for the public schools to teach or address; they were instilled at home from the time our child was an infant.
I have two children who entered kindergarten as the youngest, or one of the youngest, in their class, and I am glad that my husband and I considered their readiness as not a function of age but a reflection of their academic ability, social skills, physical ability, and emotional maturity. They have been fortunate to have teachers that recognize the individual talents and strengths of each child in their care, and we are indebted to them.
KAREN RAST
Salem