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It's been known for years that the oldest children in class perform better in school than their youngest classmates. But according to a new study co-authored by University of Toronto Scarborough economist Elizabeth Dhuey, that gap can persist, with older children more likely to attend post-secondary school and graduate from an elite university.
"Older children, in this case those born in early September, do better in elementary school than their younger peers," says Dhuey, whose past research has explored this phenomenon.
"What we found in this study is that gap persists throughout their school careers, so they end up being more likely to attend a post-secondary school and graduate from an elite university."
The study, by Dhuey, an associate professor of economics, and a team of three economists from U.S.-based universities, was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. It followed differences between Florida children born just before and after the Sept. 1 cut-off date to start kindergarten. (In Ontario, the cut-off date to start kindergarten is Jan. 1.)
precocious kids need not apply
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-09-oldest-kids-class-university.html
Reference: Elizabeth Dhuey et al. School Starting Age and Cognitive Development, (2017). DOI: 10.3386/w23660[PDF]
(Score: 2) by looorg on Monday September 11 2017, @10:58PM (3 children)
This as noted is not exactly new knowledge. It's been known for quite sometime that there is a difference between winter and summer babies. Most of it has been chalk down to the amount of potential sunlight and changes in diet depending on the seasons. Seems food allergies and asthma are more common in winter babies. While summer babies are more likely to be short sighted.
When it comes to being good in school it has always just been chalked up to age. Babies born in the winter and autumn have an age advantage over children born in the spring and summer. It all comes down to the school year starting in the autumn. So if you are born in August and school starts in September and you'll be a lot younger then someone that was born in say September or October. Which has then had, almost, a full year of growing up, gathering experiences and learning things.
Previous studies have concluded that it evens out over time and there isn't really a lot of difference in the end. A low single digit percentage here or there will probably not be very explanatory. There is most likely other factors beyond age that are better predictors. But if this studies concludes that the gap persists then that would or could change knowledge, more studies needed. That said tho it doesn't sound all that odd -- if the winter babies have a head start why would they slow down and let the summer babies catch up? It's not like they are going into hibernation. Not exactly sure what the solution would be, mandatory breeding periods so all babies become winter babies? Just so they'll potentially do good in school?
But overall I recon the most important thing said in the article was "It's important to remember these are on-average statistics". So I guess stupid just doesn't know a season but is evenly spread about the whole year. But mostly I found the term "redshirted" to be amusing, like they are all doomed to die on an away mission while serving on the Enterprise.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Arik on Monday September 11 2017, @11:28PM (1 child)
I know because it was an issue that was discussed when I started school, as I was younger than most of my classmates. Right at the beginning of the year we were told that it *might* be a problem and if it was I could be moved back a class with no hassle. As it turned out, within a couple weeks I was top of my class and that held for years, so they didn't do it, but it was certainly on their radar and I know other people that were moved, both up and down, for the best fit.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 12 2017, @12:17AM
One of my kids had a November birthday, which was near the dividing point for our school system. I decided to make him the oldest in his class instead of the youngest; I thought this fit his personality better. When he reached the end of the seventh grade, he decided to skip ahead because most of his friends were a year older and leaving for high school. His high school career didn't seem to suffer from the change in age position. He remained a top student. He would have had algebra in the eighth grade, but got it as a freshman in high school instead. If he had stayed back, he would have had his high school science courses one academic year earlier, but it would have been at the same actual age.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 11 2017, @11:45PM
More likely it's simply a matter of the higher standards put on older students. Getting into gifted programs is trivially easy if you've got a summer birthday and virtually impossible if you've got a fall one because they lower the standards for summer birthdays.
This whole thing makes little sense because you don't really know who is and isn't gifted until at least age 8. By which point the actual age difference has shrunk substantially.
But by being a bit older you wind up with additional responsibility which translates into other things. And you hit milestones at different points in the year.