First, a few paragraphs would make for easier reading of your post. HTML for that is just like the HTML for italics, except with a p.
Second, I think you read me wrong. I think kids SHOULD be pushed. I just don't think that kids should be pushed in the same classrooms with other students who widely diverge in ability, and that is far too often the case in public schools. I think that grouping kids is a good idea, but a better idea is to let kids learn from the teacher at the appropriate skill level, and expect good classroom behavior at all times. If you do the latter, you could have 5-year-olds studying with 10-year-olds. The problem is that most schools, public and private, don't insist on the latter, and rarely do the former, before high school.
I do know that, but I usually don't have too much time to respond and neglect that feature.
Second, I think you read me wrong. I think kids SHOULD be pushed. I just don't think that kids should be pushed in the same classrooms with other students who widely diverge in ability, and that is far too often the case in public schools. I think that grouping kids is a good idea, but a better idea is to let kids learn from the teacher at the appropriate skill level, and expect good classroom behavior at all times. If you do the latter, you could have 5-year-olds studying with 10-year-olds. The problem is that most schools, public and private, don't insist on the latter, and rarely do the former, before high school.
I do think kids should be pushed to an extent and do that with my own students. Yes, there are often kids in the same class who vary widely in ability. I have some kids who are reading on a fifth grade level and some who are just beginning to read in my first grade class. To an extent, there is ability grouping, but this is limited somewhat because of notion years ago (often by parents) that doing so hurt self-esteem. I won't go into that.
I think that in high school and college, kids are better prepared socially for such "grouping." There are indeed other factors to consider beyond just one's academic level. I had a neighbor who was a child genius, but who was very low on an emotional and social scale.
I'm not saying anything one way or the other, but I do know that my high kids do benefit in my classroom from others and they in turn, serve as an asset to other children. It seems like today, there is movement afoot by a lot of segments of society to just be with others of their own kind, academic level, political persuasion, race, or whatever (one of the hallmarks of the education liberals to get away from the 'bad kids'). We all can benefit from one another. I learn many things from many different people and gain new insights too. Such happens every year when I talk to different parents and kids. I also learned much from the so-called "lower kids" I went to school with, and no we're not talking about drugs, smoking, and drinking (things I've never done, nor do I plan to). Please note I am NOT referring to anything considering diversity or homosexuals or anything like that.
If there were sufficient parent support, some of what you suggest could be tried. However, no two parents are the same though many want to be satisfied. It has become more difficult to do so under the no child's behind left act.
Enough for now I guess....