expert advice MORE Retention in Seventh Grade Q: My 12-year-old
daughter is failing seventh-grade math - my choices are summer
school or holding her back a year. I know she will not be able
to do eight-grade math without some help. She is the youngest in
her class and she will be 13 in August. She goes to a school
that has 7th grade through 12 grade classes. She doesn't seem to
mind the idea of being held back or summer school. Which would
be best for her or do the least damage? A: Don't hold your
daughter back. It probably won't help her. In fact, study after
study has shown that most students who are held back achieve
less and score lower on standardized achievement tests than
similar students who are promoted. Although your daughter has
not expressed concern about being held back, most children find
it to be so upsetting that it still bothers them as adults.
Furthermore, students who are held back tend to get into
trouble, dislike school, and feel badly about themselves more
often than children who go on t