Delaying their initial entry to school can cause some children to actually fall behind their peers in learning. Some studies have shown differing early childhood academic achievement results when comparing children from low-income families with those living in middle-income homes Children from low- income homes tend to begin school with weaker skills than their peers from more advantaged backgrounds. Holding young children back a year before they begin their academic career is sometimes thought to help them mature before beginning school. This practice may actually backfire for some of those children from low-income households. During the additional year at home, these children are thought to miss opportunities to cultivate the basic skills that they could develop while taking part in a learning environment-skills suggested to be absent in some low-income families.
Which of the following summarizes the main argument of the passage?
A.
Children cannot receive an adequate education at home.
B.
Children from low-income homes should begin school a year early
C.
Children do not need an extra year to mature before beginning school.
D.
Children’s initial entry to school should not be delayed
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is D. Children’s initial entry to school should not be delayed.
Explanation:
The passage discusses the potential drawbacks of delaying a child’s entry into school, particularly for children from low-income families. The main argument centers around the idea that while holding back a child for an extra year before starting school is sometimes thought to help them mature, it may actually harm children from less advantaged backgrounds. This practice is more likely to backfire for low-income children because they may miss out on crucial learning opportunities that could be gained in a structured school environment.
The passage points out that children from low-income homes often begin school with weaker academic skills compared to their peers from middle-income families. These children may lack exposure to educational resources and early learning experiences at home, which can impede their academic growth. Delaying school entry, rather than helping them catch up or mature, might prevent them from acquiring the foundational skills that they need for academic success.
Furthermore, the argument implies that low-income children are at greater risk of falling behind if they are kept at home for an additional year. The structured environment of a classroom may provide essential opportunities for early socialization, learning, and the development of critical thinking skills—opportunities that may not be as readily available at home in low-income settings. Therefore, delaying school entry for these children can widen the academic achievement gap between them and their more advantaged peers.
The answer choice D best captures the essence of the passage’s main argument: Children’s initial entry to school should not be delayed, especially for those from low-income backgrounds, as doing so may hinder their academic development.