Nick I agree with your statement about childhood development. The example of the 11 year old graduating from college is a fantastic support to the argument that children do not develop at the specific ages as Piaget said. However, my personal experience with children has shown me that Piaget was correct in thinking that they go through the various stages. The question is not whether children develop in stages, but rather, at what age does this development occur.
Going back to the 11 year old example, I would be worried that this individual would be at risk for social deficiency. This type of person could be equivocated to an early maturer from chapter 2. When children matriculate through school with their peers they form social norms for their age group. In other words, "Through interacting with others, children clarify their views, obtain conflicting opinions, and reconcile their ideas with those of others... Social interactions can also help children develop an awareness and understanding of others" (p. 161). Although this child is mentally equivalent to their collegiate peers, they are not developmentally equivalent. A sense of disequilibrium can result from with this child goes through changes that their collegiate peer have already experienced. A situation arises in which they would be isolated from their age peers due to mental superiority (p. 224) and their collegiate peers due to their developmental inferiority.
No matter how advanced they are from their age peers, eventually their peers will catch up. When this occurs, this child, not developing the complex social relationships with their peers, is possibly going to be at a disadvantage. This thought lends support for keeping a child with their age group no matter how advanced they are mentally.
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I think you are exactly right. Children in this kind of situation tend to be isolated due to the age difference and just a lack of experience with age mates. Additionally, it might be difficult for them to relate to those their age because they just aren't quite on the same level as them mentally. Another alternative might be to have them stay at the same grade, but take many of the subject classes in different classes. It would probably make for a more well-rounded child.
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