It’s elementary

Re “A push to extend years in elementary school,” Sept. 2

This is exactly how my elementary school years were spent. We learned about life from the older children. Often, it was possible for older siblings to be in the same school with their younger brother or sister. It was where we found out that bullies (a major subject of concern these days) often got sorted out pretty quickly. Boys and girls may have entered the school buildings through separate doors, but then easily mingled in the classroom and play yards.

Of my three sons, two had enormous difficulty adjusting to middle school after an exciting six years in the Open Charter School. Their tale was not uncommon among their sixth-grade classmates who remained in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Can we hope that this experiment will spread to every elementary school?

Carl. Cronin

West Hollywood