“I would also be leery of putting 8th graders in a school with very small children.”
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As a product of the K-8 system, I don’t understand why you would say this.
It might depend on the school system. I've been in a small system where there wouldn't have been a problem with it, but I've seen others where the 8th graders would be...shall we say, a bad influence?
On the other hand, if it were handled correctly, they might rise to the occassion and be good role models for the smaller children.
I'm just commenting based on gut instinct; I obviously haven't done any research on the matter.