Replies

Your children are going to a public school now, right?

As far as the Chinese boys, that was really kind of you to respond.

But look at it from the public school perspective (& I'm not a big public school fan)....

...Someone should have made the effort to bring these youngsters up to speed at some level, or find a tutor....

..it looks like they were just dumped into the school, and the teacher is expected to know what they want or need.

The boys are probably bright enough, that daily interaction with the students will encourage them to learn English.....

....but I am of the 'English only' crowd when it comes to schools.

I do agree that this is hard on the boys, and I'm mindful that they need help, but it's not the school's responsibility......it's the parents!

I hope that doesn't sound too harsh.

And pardon my nosiness, but did you not consider private schooling for your kids, especially after all the home schooling?
I know private schools can be expensive, but I think the adjustment would be easier, and it must really be a culture shock to see the 'worldly' attitude of these kids.

I'm in total agreement, Guenevere, about the Chinese boys. In fact, one of the many things I'd change about public education is that I would make it NOT mandatory. It is a privelege and should be considered to be so. One of the many advantages that private schools have over public schools is that they can set standards for academics and behavior that make sure you keep problems out. In public schools, short of criminal behavior you have to keep them in.

I just think, with regard to the Chinese boys, that if the school is going to have them, they're going to have an attitude that they're going to really bring them in. If you can't offer anything to them, I don't blame them for that. But they shouldn't be registering them and then claiming to the state two more warm bodies for which we need a few thousand dollars each for their education.