Age segregation

A recent article regarding a college refusing admittance to a girl because she was only 13 got me thinking about how obsessed America tends to be with Age segregation.

I don't know about other countries having not studied enough of them.  But in my readings, and discussions with different folk around here. I can say with certainty, America likes her ages separated.

I often wonder why folk consider the age segregation of public school to be 'preparation for the real world'?  My husband worked in an office with folk from late 20's to late 50's.  They had interests, histories, and habits spanning 3 decades.  Yet no one felt the need for them to separate by year, or even by 'generation'.

If adults do choose separate by age,is it really a good thing?  Would it be better for the older to keep away from the younger, or would we learn more from each other by being willing to be together?

So often when we talk of children playing we lament the lack of same age (preferably same gender) playmates.

Is this attempt at homogenization good for children?

Think of the last person you met, and why you liked, or didn't like them.  Can you honestly say it was their age?  If they were an adult, you prolly didn't even ask.

The longer we spend trying to separate the ages, the harder it will be for teens to integrate into the real world.  The real world is full of folk of all ages, and all types.  Children and teens need to spend more time in it, not less.