Holding kids back is not the answer We tend to think in such black and white ways. It’s either hold them back or force them to rise to great low expectations. The reality is there are many other options. And let me say this: this is definitely going to look different in elementary versus middle versus high school. Holding kids back in elementary school is so stigmatizing. It very well may disrupt the rest of their schooling. In the middle and high school, there might cases where retaking a class