finding a school

[Son of Clyde]

I need some advice.

For those of you who married a woman with a child, how did you find a school for her child?

Should I contact the board of education or go directly to the nearest high school? Her son is 14 years old.

I think it is best to enroll him in a school with American students and not a program for teaching Russian students. It is better this way so he can improve his English.

Some schools, I believe, would have a special program for foreign students.

I just hope they will not want to hold him back a year. 

[Maxx]

I have done this before with the ex's son. Just go to the closest school and they will tell you were to go if it is not the one. I believe all schools have special programs for foreign students. The school my ex stepson went to was a smaller school. There were at least a dozen kids in these classes. There were 3 other kids near his age that spoke Russian that were not in these classes. There are Russian speaking kids everywhere. We had 2 at my ex stepson's school bus stop!

I would not worry about this too much. Give your stepson a weeks rest to get over the jet lag and then the three of you go to the nearest school together.

Maxx  

[BC]

Normal classes were just fine for our 10 yr old.  Here schools are against segregating kids with special needs. Laws stress integration. All are lumped into one classroom with teacher assistants assigned to severely handicapped kids if necessary.

Worked great. Started with 0 language skills and within 6 months was even with other kids.  Within a year getting almost straight "A"'s

[Elen]

I would not worry about this too much

 And I would:? because boy is 14 but not 10y.o. or younger Just re call yourselves in these ages and if you had to deal with new "company" in that ages you'd understand what I mean.

And Russian school's programms are about 2 years ahead to americans ones. (at mathematic and physics at least) So try to find him good school

BTW is a choice of school depends on place where you live in (I mean can you make you choice among ALL schools you would be abble to drive your child to or your choice is limited by some rules?)

For example in Moscow (I think in Russia as well) every secondary school (secondary school in Russia means 1-11 classes) has a list of next appartaments children from which have a right to go to this particular school( even if director of this school just "hate" your genious child and wishes never see him in his school). But if you want your child would go to some other school which you think would be better for him you should make an agreement with director And in this case a director of school has any right to say you NO. All depends on what you can offer to a director;))

 

[Jet]

I agree with the others. Our little guy just finished kindergarten (pic in on-line photo album section) so he's a little younger, but he adjusted fine to plain standard english speaking classes in a matter of about a week. He had no english ability at all before that, and like BCs case, he's right up near the top of the class at the end of his first year in USA.

You might take a look at the local school board's website as our's had a little search engine where you type in your address and they tell you which school boundry you reside in.

[wxman]

Never underestimate the learning power of a child. I admire the education system in Russia and the FSU. Education is taken more seriously by school children than they are in America. American children are quite comparable to the European and Russian children in grades 1 through 8, but we fall far behind in grades 9 through 12. He will likely not be too impressed with our high school system. His math skills, writing skill, science skill, etc will be further advanced than children his age in the US. He might get quite bored, so hopefully your schools have an accelerated program for him. I have already talked to school official in my city as my fiance's daughter is 9 and I wanted to know what would happen. They will put her in an ESL program for about 2 months and then integrate her into the regular school system. The schools are always impressed at the education level of these children from Russia and the FSU.

[Son of Clyde]

It's really weird. Very intelligent people yet their degrees don't transfer to the US.

Doctors in the FSU have to enroll for classes in the US and start over. They are not recognized here.

I would like to think the basic concepts of medicine are the same all over the world and it is a matter of adjusting to our technology.

[ConnerVT]

Let's not all jump to the conclusion that Elen's statement that Russia's education programs are two years ahead of the comparable class grade in the US.  It may be different, but not necessarily advanced.

Unlike US schools, where entering 1st grade typically is preceded by an educational experience in Kindergarten, typically 1st grade in Russia is the first true organized educational situation children have.  For most Russian Kindergartens are more akin to US day care centers than school.

Once in 1st grade, children in the US really have little recreation time (based on my son's public school experience).  My wife has commented to me on numerous occasions that the children should be given more time to play.

So how is it that, by the time a child goes from six years old to fourteen, he has fallen two years behind, given a one year head start?

It will all depend on what you use to measure.  Although the Russian student will be able to rattle of more facts and information, American curriculum tend to place more emphasis on teaching how to learn, and the development of creative thought and reasoning.  So it is difficult to develop a yardstick that measures both equally.

[BC]

Conner,

IMO it's the emphasis on the three R's and discipline in RU schools that impressed me. Visited our daughters school there and watched for a day, also tried to help a bit with homework. Penmanship that looked absolutely perfect to me was heavily criticized. 2 to 3 hours homework almost every evening. Reading reading reading... and we're talking 3rd grade.  I don't think I worked that hard in college

They really hammer it in there.. - and I still have to think twice about 6 x 9 =??

[ConnerVT]

Unfortunately, the way you word your last post makes it seem that you don't believe that the 3 Rs or discipline is present in American schools.  I don't know about all schools in the US (or any school in Italy), so I will only base my observations on what I do know (or have discussed in detail with reliable, first hand sources).

I have had much experience with many of the school programs in northern and central Vermont.  Discipline is of major importance.  Not only from student to teacher, but from student to student as well.  This has been strongly emphasized due to the student violence incidents in the US of the past ten years, usually of the result of student bullying and peer rejection.  Even at the lower elementary grade level, there is typical a 'zero tolerance' of unsafe, improper, or "unsafe body' behavior.  On the other hand, my nephew in Russia (nearly the oldest in his first grade class) several times this year was afraid to even attend school due to the bullying of older children.  Which is a better environment for learning?

I am unsure what benefits the rote memorization of facts have in the Information Age.  At an early age, building the foundation for further learning (or more important, developing a love for learning) seems more productive.  It seems to me this is the direction Vermont schools have been taking.

As for homework, I have known US high school students who have been cranking out 5 or more hours of homework each night.  Some of them also work part time jobs (to finance automobiles), and will be doing school work until the early AM hours.

All of this is a bit OT for Son of Clyde, as I don't have any first hand experience with how a 14 y.o will aclimate.  But then, I've yet to meet a child that comes with an instruction manual.  Be firm, and be flexible.  Might sound like contridicory advice, but those who have been there will agree. 

 

[wxman]

Success in the US belongs to those who can think outside of the box. Our schools do emphasize this. Students who do not take their education seriously are quickly left behind. I think it is critical that children are taught to think independently and outside the box as is the case in the US , but I also think it is critical to have the skills that they teach in Russia and FSU. If there was a way to combine the two, then it could really benefit the students.  

[Vaughn]

Our daughter was 14 when she arrived Dec 2002, and she was immediately placed in the middle of 8th grade. Having looked over her "tetradi" workbooks in Russia, I figured she'd be ahead in science and math - she already had one year of chemistry, and her math skills included solid geometry. Sure enough, she was bored here with those subjects, but highly challenged with composition and free thought - partly by the language, but mostly by inexperience.

Clyde, your son will likely NOT be grouped up with only Russian students, but a healthy mix of internationals. ESL (at least here) is a one-period class with a one-hour language lab each week. The rest of each day is in normal American classes. Eventually they phased her out of ESL entirely. As for school assignment, ask the school board, or even easier, ask any parent nearby - they're usually aware of the boundaries.

 

I just hope they will not want to hold him back a year.

I bet they won't. Then again, Maryland's educational reputation is one of high standards and they might test him. Here, our Lenara was placed on age basis with a quick glance at her translated transcript.

[Elen]

So how is it that, by the time a child goes from six years old to fourteen, he has fallen two years behind, given a one year head start?

 Want to compare for to figure out  how it could be ?? Then let post themes your 14 y.os study at math. and physic lessons I'll take a look at my daughter's old school books and do the same.

On the other hand, my nephew in Russia (nearly the oldest in his first grade class) several times this year was afraid to even attend school due to the bullying of older children.  Which is a better environment for learning?

There is a problem of your nepew who most probably didn't go to kindengarden and therefore has not needed skills in social communication. ( or he goes to VERY bad school)

 

One who have FOUR members in family who work(ed) in secondary Russian schools (physicphysicist- teacher of literature/ Russian language- teacher of biology- and even ZAVUCH:P)

 

[BC]

Unfortunately, the way you word your last post makes it seem that you don't believe that the 3 Rs or discipline is present in American schools.  I don't know about all schools in the US (or any school in Italy), so I will only base my observations on what I do know (or have discussed in detail with reliable, first hand sources).

Conner,

Hmm.. thought I was keeping it quite 'neutral' based on my direct observations and discussions with folks there. Nothing more, nothing less with a pinch of humor added.

[jb]

I can't say for sure how a lot of State's public schools stack up with Russians, but when my youngest step-son came here to the USA at age 14, he was evaluated according to US education standards and placed in the 12th grade.  He graduated high school at age 15, at the top of his class.  Of course, he already was fluent in English when he arrived.

He's now 3rd year undergrad and will finish up in two years with his MS.  This summer he will intern at Los Alamos National Labratory where the other interns will be postgrads from MIT, Stanford, and CalPoly, a rather rarified strata for a just turned 20 y.o.

I'm not saying all Russian children will do so well, but they are well grounded in math and science and should look like giants in a land of mental midgets by comparison.

[Turboguy]

I sure can't say our students are well grounded in math.   When I go to the store it is shocking at what you see.   I went to WalMart a while back and was standing there with a $ 20.00 bill in my hand as she came up with the total of $ 12.05.   She looked quickly and then I said I would give her the nickle.   She said she couldn't do that, she already rang it in.   That is bad when you can't figure the math on that.

I was at the grocery store a few weeks ago.  The girl came up with the total and then rang the wrong amout in.    She had to call in three of her coworkers to figure the change and all three together did not get it right.

[wxman]

Turboguy, that is so true. It is sad when both children and adults can not do simple math. Yes, they are taught math, but everyone nowadays, allows the machines to do the thinking for them. I remember the good ol days when you had to use your brain to figure things out and the only math aide we had was the slide rule. 

[Turboguy]

Yes, I still have a couple of slide rules laying around gathering dust.  I think there is something wrong with the education system when basic math is beyond our graduates.   But then again who needs it anymore in this world.

[chuckinwdc]

Son of Clyde,

Check with the nearest public school, and they'll tell you where you have to go to matriculate the boy. We had to go to the central processing facility for our county's school system. He had to be tested and then placed.

For us it was a massive headache because of all the residency requirements that our state has in place. Your state I've heard is a LOT more flexible and lenient about this stuff, so it shouldn't be a problem. Anyway, establishing proofs of residency for your new wife and her son should be priorities for you.

I'm guessing you probably live in a multicultural, diverse location, so your local public schools should already have ESL programs available for kids.

Good luck!

Chuck in D.C.

[Son of Clyde]

I went to a fast food place last night and the teenage cashier told me my bill was $5.10.

I paid him $10.10 and he gave me $4.90 in change.

Go figure.

[ConnerVT]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

I went to a fast food place last night and the teenage cashier told me my bill was $5.10.

I paid him $10.10 and he gave me $4.90 in change.

Go figure.

Did this teenager strike you as someone whom would be attending Harvard or M.I.T. anytime in the future?  Remember, even 50% of medical doctors graduate at the bottom half of their class.

Some people become ditch diggers, and some become rocket scientists.  This is good, because the world needs both ditches and rockets.

Those of us who frequent RWD tend to be more from the top half of the class.  Not as a boast, but as a realistic observation.  We have ideas, we wish to express them, and we can find the words to do so.  Not all people have these skills and abilities.

So let's not speak too badly of those less generously bestowed with such abilities.  If they were as smart as the rest of us, we would be average.  And I'll wager that many here would not be too happy with that.