Comments on: Where I vent on education, immersion, and the experience of being a parent. http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/ Thaw before reheating. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:03:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: liprap http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4207 liprap Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:48:02 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4207 It's becoming an even bigger question now than it was in the days of segregated schools: how to get free, quality public education for all regardless of one's social and/or economic status? We are so busy as parents scrambling for our own that it can be hard to see beyond the changing paperwork required for applications, the escalating tuitions, the particular needs of one's own children, and the deadlines to see that the way all of this is being done is seriously messed. What is still wrong tends to overshadow what is right, and as a result, parents AND children see elementary and secondary education as a long-term episode that must be coped with and then it'll eventually be over. It's sad...and unproductive for all in the long run...and the problems are still there year after year after year. A lot of it does stem from treating kids and teachers alike as pawns in a game that rewards academically good children as though they are productive workers. These are our kids, for goodness sakes. Yes, there must be standards. But I can't help but feel that, in all of this, a parent's love for his/her child and a parent's wish for his/her child to do better than his/herself gets exploited to some very disgusting depths. And all that is left to say to parents is "good luck"??? It's a divide and conquer sort of strategy imposed on parents. What you are feeling, Holly, is all too common. I wanna wave a magic wand and get it to go away, but I don't have that power. We still have to negotiate this crap. The fighting for our children never ends...but it IS easier to fight for ALL children when one doesn't have children of one's own that are of school age. It’s becoming an even bigger question now than it was in the days of segregated schools: how to get free, quality public education for all regardless of one’s social and/or economic status? We are so busy as parents scrambling for our own that it can be hard to see beyond the changing paperwork required for applications, the escalating tuitions, the particular needs of one’s own children, and the deadlines to see that the way all of this is being done is seriously messed. What is still wrong tends to overshadow what is right, and as a result, parents AND children see elementary and secondary education as a long-term episode that must be coped with and then it’ll eventually be over. It’s sad…and unproductive for all in the long run…and the problems are still there year after year after year.

A lot of it does stem from treating kids and teachers alike as pawns in a game that rewards academically good children as though they are productive workers. These are our kids, for goodness sakes. Yes, there must be standards. But I can’t help but feel that, in all of this, a parent’s love for his/her child and a parent’s wish for his/her child to do better than his/herself gets exploited to some very disgusting depths.

And all that is left to say to parents is “good luck”???

It’s a divide and conquer sort of strategy imposed on parents. What you are feeling, Holly, is all too common. I wanna wave a magic wand and get it to go away, but I don’t have that power. We still have to negotiate this crap. The fighting for our children never ends…but it IS easier to fight for ALL children when one doesn’t have children of one’s own that are of school age.

]]> By: Emily R http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4152 Emily R Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:19:21 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4152 I think you need to fight for better public education. But, facing facts that the system sucks also means that, while you fight for all kids, you need to do what's best for your kids... I think you need to fight for better public education. But, facing facts that the system sucks also means that, while you fight for all kids, you need to do what’s best for your kids…

]]> By: kitty http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4133 kitty Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:56:27 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4133 I considered a french immersion school for my girls when they were younger, but it was such a drive (an hour in traffic each way). In the end they didn't want to do it. We're really fortunate to live in an excellent school district with extensive resources, so it wasn't that big of a deal for them to go public. What i did was go to the community college and learn to speak French, then spoke it to the girls at home. We also spent a great deal of time in France, so by the time they took French in middle school, they didn't have any trouble with the accent and picked it up quickly. One of my daughters placed 7th in the National French exam (out of 80,000 hs aged kids). Since Spanish and French are both romantic languages, it is not too difficult to learn one if you know the other, so I've heard. If it's not too confusing to them, teach them what you know in Spanish. Such difficult decisions. You're a smart woman, you'll get it sorted out. I considered a french immersion school for my girls when they were younger, but it was such a drive (an hour in traffic each way).
In the end they didn’t want to do it. We’re really fortunate to live in an excellent school district with extensive resources, so it wasn’t that big of a deal for them to go public.
What i did was go to the community college and learn to speak French, then spoke it to the girls at home. We also spent a great deal of time in France, so by the time they took French in middle school, they didn’t have any trouble with the accent and picked it up quickly. One of my daughters placed 7th in the National French exam (out of 80,000 hs aged kids).

Since Spanish and French are both romantic languages, it is not too difficult to learn one if you know the other, so I’ve heard. If it’s not too confusing to them, teach them what you know in Spanish.

Such difficult decisions. You’re a smart woman, you’ll get it sorted out.

]]> By: Painted Maypole http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4130 Painted Maypole Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:03:17 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4130 we send MQ to a private school, even here in the burbs. It began because the public schools would not even consider her for Kindergarten because of her birthday being 3 days after the cut off, but now into her 3rd year of elementary education and after all sorts of tests, we are being proven more than right that she is in the grade she belongs. We might be able to transfer her now, but have been so pleased with the education she's getting that we are reluctant to switch. As long as the inlaws keep paying for it... and yes, we struggle with this, since we are also big supporters of public education. we send MQ to a private school, even here in the burbs. It began because the public schools would not even consider her for Kindergarten because of her birthday being 3 days after the cut off, but now into her 3rd year of elementary education and after all sorts of tests, we are being proven more than right that she is in the grade she belongs. We might be able to transfer her now, but have been so pleased with the education she’s getting that we are reluctant to switch. As long as the inlaws keep paying for it…

and yes, we struggle with this, since we are also big supporters of public education.

]]> By: Heather.engel@gmail. http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4128 Heather.engel@gmail. Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:48:40 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4128 We were just having a similar conversation last night about what we've heard about the schools in our area. We never considered ourselves to be the type who would send their kids to private school but our district isn't the greatest. Public schools in general scare me, I think because kids and schools are so different from when I was a kid. Private schools have their own problems too so I guess you can pick which problems you want to deal with. I wish you luck...it sounds like the situation there is even harder to figure out. We were just having a similar conversation last night about what we’ve heard about the schools in our area. We never considered ourselves to be the type who would send their kids to private school but our district isn’t the greatest. Public schools in general scare me, I think because kids and schools are so different from when I was a kid. Private schools have their own problems too so I guess you can pick which problems you want to deal with.

I wish you luck…it sounds like the situation there is even harder to figure out.

]]> By: Michelle http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4127 Michelle Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:22:29 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4127 I run over this internal debate every few months. My oldest is in public school French Immersion (the private schools here don't even offer it, so thankfully they weren't even an option for me), and we love it. Her, not so much. But she's not fond of school in any form. Unless they talk about sharks and snakes and dinosaurs all day long and leave her alone to read and learn on her own. Homeschooling would be great for her, but I can't give her French immersion. And, especially given my family's heritage, that's an important point for us. So, we compromise. She goes to french imm. public school, and I supplement at home. We homeschool throughout the summer and fill in on school breaks and weekends with wherever her interest lies at the moment. We weigh our options, and figure out what's best for our family at different points in time. And as our family changes and grows, so does what's best for the individuals and the family as a unit. I have no idea what will happen when my 2 yr old is ready for "real" school, but I know there's no point stressing about it now, because our needs will surely change (as will our options) in the next 3 years. I will refrain from a rant on the state out our education system. Former teacher and all I . . . wait . . . no, I'm not even going there. Good luck with your own decision. I'm sure you will do what is best for your children. I run over this internal debate every few months. My oldest is in public school French Immersion (the private schools here don’t even offer it, so thankfully they weren’t even an option for me), and we love it. Her, not so much. But she’s not fond of school in any form. Unless they talk about sharks and snakes and dinosaurs all day long and leave her alone to read and learn on her own. Homeschooling would be great for her, but I can’t give her French immersion. And, especially given my family’s heritage, that’s an important point for us.

So, we compromise. She goes to french imm. public school, and I supplement at home. We homeschool throughout the summer and fill in on school breaks and weekends with wherever her interest lies at the moment. We weigh our options, and figure out what’s best for our family at different points in time. And as our family changes and grows, so does what’s best for the individuals and the family as a unit. I have no idea what will happen when my 2 yr old is ready for “real” school, but I know there’s no point stressing about it now, because our needs will surely change (as will our options) in the next 3 years.

I will refrain from a rant on the state out our education system. Former teacher and all I . . . wait . . . no, I’m not even going there. Good luck with your own decision. I’m sure you will do what is best for your children.

]]> By: Pistolette http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4126 Pistolette Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:20:54 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4126 I very much agree about the immersion experience and desperately want it for my children. I speak French, but I'm not fluent, and don't feel comfortable teaching my kids 'broken' French. I want to send them to the private French school, but it is hideously expensive, especially for TWO children. I will try to get them into the charter programs, but I have no patience with jumping through bureaucratic hoops that change on a whim. I'm curious to know if you've heard anything about the charter programs' quality (once one gets into the program). Like, is the actual curriculum and quality of teachers even close to what the private one offers? A post discussing the immersion options would be welcome :-) I very much agree about the immersion experience and desperately want it for my children. I speak French, but I’m not fluent, and don’t feel comfortable teaching my kids ‘broken’ French. I want to send them to the private French school, but it is hideously expensive, especially for TWO children. I will try to get them into the charter programs, but I have no patience with jumping through bureaucratic hoops that change on a whim.

I’m curious to know if you’ve heard anything about the charter programs’ quality (once one gets into the program). Like, is the actual curriculum and quality of teachers even close to what the private one offers? A post discussing the immersion options would be welcome :-)

]]> By: Lucy http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4125 Lucy Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:18:59 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4125 The United States education system breaks my heart. Each STATE has different guidelines because technically education is under STATES. We do not have FEDERAL education system or a National education system. What is frustrating is education in general. It is all the little things that drives me nuts but these little things add up. For instance, all the research shows that kids should learn a foreign language at a young age and yet we start them in middle school??? How stupid is that! In addition, research shows that the little ones should go to school early and middle school and up should go later in our STATE we do it backwards. Why in the United States do we ignore research? Well, for the last one, it is about sports. Don't get me started on that. Anyways, my heart goes out to you. I can't stand the education system. I can't stand that we make every child think they must go to college when not all are suited for college. We make that child feel like a failure and they are not. They should be trained in other skills that they are good at, cooking, electrical work, construction, hairdressers and so on. Unfortunately, we teach our children that these are lower jobs and yet we need these services and people love these jobs and are happy performing them. I am sorry to rattle on but I could actually go on and on about our broken system and like you I wish I knew how to fix it. My dream is to open my own school with my own philoshophy and it is very different than the present system today. We can all dream right??? The United States education system breaks my heart. Each STATE has different guidelines because technically education is under STATES. We do not have FEDERAL education system or a National education system. What is frustrating is education in general. It is all the little things that drives me nuts but these little things add up. For instance, all the research shows that kids should learn a foreign language at a young age and yet we start them in middle school??? How stupid is that! In addition, research shows that the little ones should go to school early and middle school and up should go later in our STATE we do it backwards. Why in the United States do we ignore research? Well, for the last one, it is about sports. Don’t get me started on that.

Anyways, my heart goes out to you. I can’t stand the education system. I can’t stand that we make every child think they must go to college when not all are suited for college. We make that child feel like a failure and they are not. They should be trained in other skills that they are good at, cooking, electrical work, construction, hairdressers and so on. Unfortunately, we teach our children that these are lower jobs and yet we need these services and people love these jobs and are happy performing them.

I am sorry to rattle on but I could actually go on and on about our broken system and like you I wish I knew how to fix it. My dream is to open my own school with my own philoshophy and it is very different than the present system today. We can all dream right???

]]> By: Cara http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4123 Cara Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:43:42 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4123 We homeschool also due to the broken system. Things aren't much better in Jefferson Parish. We don't' have the charter system yet, but our local schools aren't great either, even the magnets aren't as good as they could be due to overcrowding and other issues. Pre-K I had it all planned, we lived in Lakeview and big kidlet was going to go to Hynes into their French Immersion program. Now we are homeschooling, funny how plans change. Good luck finding a program that fits your kids and your financial needs. We homeschool also due to the broken system. Things aren’t much better in Jefferson Parish. We don’t’ have the charter system yet, but our local schools aren’t great either, even the magnets aren’t as good as they could be due to overcrowding and other issues. Pre-K I had it all planned, we lived in Lakeview and big kidlet was going to go to Hynes into their French Immersion program. Now we are homeschooling, funny how plans change. Good luck finding a program that fits your kids and your financial needs.

]]> By: Amy http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/2010/01/02/where-i-vent-on-education-immersion-and-the-experience-of-being-a-parent/comment-page-1/#comment-4122 Amy Sun, 03 Jan 2010 05:30:54 +0000 http://www.coldspaghetti.org/blog/?p=5759#comment-4122 I become an accidental homeschooler because of the broken system in place in New Orleans. I have enjoyed the year that I have had teaching Em, but we are ready to try public school now that we are no longer in the city and on the other side of the lake. I have a difficult time comprehending how the system can be so very different in two areas so close together. Whatever the right decision, when the time comes, you will make it. :) I become an accidental homeschooler because of the broken system in place in New Orleans. I have enjoyed the year that I have had teaching Em, but we are ready to try public school now that we are no longer in the city and on the other side of the lake. I have a difficult time comprehending how the system can be so very different in two areas so close together.

Whatever the right decision, when the time comes, you will make it. :)

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