My Boarding School Blog

The New York Times report that teachers in France are slowly leaving their home land to teach in the United States. France is now facing an impending risk of “brain drain” from this growing incident. French government and officials are now becoming worried that there will be no more qualified teachers left because a good number of them has fled for the US.

What is most concerning is that the professionals leaving France are included the best among the best in their fields. Most of them studied in the finest and prestigious schools and universities in France. Biologists, economists and scientists are found to obtain their masters and doctorate studies in US and never came back. When asked why they leave France to pursue their professional career in the US, most of them answered that they are motivated by the American system of education wherein there are larger universities boasting of richer and flexible curriculum and a wide range of specialization. Scientists are attracted to the United States’ concept of being competitive in the scientific approach and in research which the French are less focused on.

France’s educational system still lacks the richness and intensive approach to quality standards that compared of the US. The French government does not allocate enough funds to nurture the educational demands of both teachers and students thus preventing their local’s talents to proliferate and develop. This brings a barrier to their full potential as successful individuals in their own chosen fields of study. Additionally French professors who work in the US are paid more than what they get when they teach in France.

The window of opportunity has opened for French teacher at the start of the US – France Teachers in Training Exchange Program wherein American teachers are exchanged with French teachers to teach in poor communities. Teachers are given seminars of the each country’s culture, history and society and these teachers in turn impart this knowledge to their students. French students learn American language, culture and history through the American exchange teachers. This program enables learning of different cultures and promotes healthy social development between students from two different countries.

This program is implemented and supported by the ECA, the Fulbright Commission and the French Ministry of Education. With a funding of around $350,000 the program aims to enrich teachers of both country into teaching and learning about each others culture, people and history.

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We study hard because of many reasons like achieving a status quo, landing a high paying job, venturing into business and for our own personal fulfillment. In the economic crisis we are experiencing today a solid educational background is necessary to survive in the real world. As we grow up to be mature thinking individuals we learn how to be responsible for ourselves and to become independent. Part of this acquired independence is the accountability for our own sake and future. Not all will become famous or renowned but a good number of us would need to be employed to pay for bills, buy groceries and pay rent. Money is not everything but money is significant to live a comfortable life and with a good education a successful career is likely to be achieved.

Most students graduating from secondary school and those lucky enough to enter college often are clueless of what they would like to study in preparation for their chosen career. Some just don’t know what they like while others are torn between what they want and what their parents want for them.

Knowing what you want to be when you grow up is not something that comes to you in a short span of time. It is stated in the developmental career theory that there are 3 stages wherein factors determine your future career choice.

1. Fantasy state – involves role playing and imagination evident in early childhood.
2. Tentative stage – an individual grows and there is increase awareness of his own interest and abilities.
3. Realistic stage – the individual can identify his career choice. This often happens to a grown up individual.

The stages are not strictly met because of certain factors such as personal values, emotional factors, kind and availability of education and other environmental pressures. These can affect in making a decision for a career choice.

Some colleges and universities offers career counseling for students who are having a difficult time in their studies with underlying reasons that their courses are not apt with their own interest and capability. Most of the time parents impose their own career choices to their children. For example, a doctor would like his son to be like him and encourages him to take up medicine. Unconsciously the father puts pressure to the child to follow his chosen field withstanding what the son really likes to be.

Good thing colleges, government educational agencies and other educational institutions offers career development for ongoing students and other individuals who would like to take the opportunity to improve their lives. Organizations offer courses on career development for supplementing their income to further support their families. The Career Development Initiative (CDI) provides assistance in training and providing resources to locals to increase their chances of getting employed. They are coordinate with the U.S. Department of Labor in fulfilling the goals of this project.

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Home schooling also known as home education or home learning is typically learning at home. Parents act as the teachers for their children instead of going to educational institutions run by government or private sectors. Home schooling is legal in most states in Canada and in 50 states in the U.S. There are a number of reasons why parents choose to home school their child like improved academic test results, lesser peer pressure, improved character, and inexpensive education compared to most private schools.

Home schooling dates back in the 17th century in Europe where families has resorted to home schooling their children due to lack of income. Nowadays parents have other reasons why they choose homeschooling instead of the traditional way of schooling. Parents are now starting to take a stand and gain control of how to develop their children’s abilities. Although homeschooling is legal in the US there are still laws that govern homeschooling, these are private school laws, home education laws and equivalency laws. Home schooling is growing in popularity among other countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Can I save with Home Schooling?

The common misconception is that more parents choose home schooling because it is cheaper. Although it can be a little less expensive compared to private schools if you know where to find resources and how to use them effectively, home schooling might just work well with your family budget. There are package curriculums available from various institutions it may run from a few hundred dollars to around a thousand. To give you an idea of home schooling curriculum here is an example, an elementary grade program from Calvert School can cost around 500 to 600 dollars and as high as 1,400 dollars from Laurel Springs. These are just estimates but if you would really want to give your child the best home schooling education you need to be resourceful and learn your way through the Internet because it can be a very rich source of information and most of the time it’s free or is widely available at a lower price.

If you are a hesitant parent and is concerned of your ability to teach your child at home you can seek help from other parents whose children are home schooled in forums and support groups available all through out the state. This will help you to choose among the different curriculums and where to get tips that can help enhance your teaching style and develop your child’s talents and skills more effectively than what traditional schooling can do.

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Special Education is a collection of services provided by educational institutions to persons with disabilities between ages 3 to 21. The program is designed to guarantee that students with disabilities are provided with an effective teaching environment. People with disabilities ranging from physical disabilities like hearing impairment, deafness and blindness, mental disabilities like Autism and Down’s syndrome, behavioural deficits like attention deficit hyperactivity disorders; and those with cognitive disabilities like dyslexia.

In Canada, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHCA, PL 94-142) orders states to provide free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to all students with disabilities. Students will need to undergo a comprehensive screening from a medical team for identification and diagnosis. An Individual Educational Plan (IEP) will be provided for each student which specifies academic and behavioural goals to be met, services needed and the ongoing evaluation process. Institutions has the option develops their own IEP including a detailed assessment of the student’s strengths and areas of improvement.

In the US, Special Education was made mandatory by the Federal Government in 1975. The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) was created to address issues of discrimination against students with disabilities. The EHA was later made into Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The states in the US are funded to provide Special Education coherent with Federal Standards. Part of this act is the promotion of the least restrictive environment (LRE) for students with disabilities along with a free appropriate public education (FAPE). LRE is characterized as giving opportunity to the students with disabilities to learn and be educated with non-disabled peers. Generally students with disabilities should have access to resources, extracurricular activities, and programs available to non-disabled students.

To be qualified to participate in the special education provided by the IDEA, a student needs to have any one of these disabilities.

• Autism
• Developmental disability
• Specific learning disability
• Intellectual impairment
• Emotional or Behavioural disability
• Deafness and Language disability
• Blind or those with Visual Disturbance
• Physical Impairment
• Attention Deficit Disorder, Multiple disabilities and brain injury

It is very important that the state cares for providing education to people with disabilities. As part of the nation’s aim to push for the “No Child Left Behind” policy legislators and educators are mandated to provide these benefits to qualified applicants. Training for teachers of special education should be enhances to better equip them with the knowledge and expertise in helping these kids attain standard education fitting with their needs and disabilities.

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Parents are growing fearful of sending their children in school because of the gun shootings and violence reported in news that happens in school grounds. Parents are torn between wanting to keep their children safe and giving them the opportunity to study. Parents shouldn’t feel this way. Schools are children’s second home mainly because they spend most of their day in the four corners of the classroom, in hallways, locker rooms, gym and school grounds. It can be regarded as their second home.

Contrary to what is perceived by many people, violence in schools has steadily dropped in the last 10 years. According to the US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) the annual rate of violent crimes in 2007 was less than half of the rate in 1994 (40 per 1,000). The graph below shows the declining trend of school violence from 1994 up to 2007.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), 2007. Cited in Figure 2.2 in Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2007; National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education

School is an important part of an individual for this is where he develops skills, acquire knowledge and learn to make lasting relationship with friends, mentors and colleagues. Every year approximately 50 million students go to school both in elementary and high school. Imagine if one in eight students carries a gun in school; it would be enough to wage a war.

Everyone must act to make our schools safe. Teachers, students and parents should help each other to be vigilant in reporting crimes and violence happening unnoticed. According to NCES survey 84% of public school has a low security system in place and 3% with no security at all. This is characterized by insufficient school guards and metal weapon detectors. Security guards should wear their badge at all times and implement strict rules on preventing outsiders from entering the school premises. Schools should initiate violence preventions programs and policies. Information can be found from these organizations: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, School Violence | School Bullying | School Safety, and National Crime Prevention Council.

Parents can help in preventing violence in schools by paying attention to changes in personality of their children. Many times children who are experiencing personal problems and those observed to have sudden change in moods and outlook are prone to becoming violent. Talk with your child if you see symptoms of depression, violence towards animals, sudden rage or sudden bouts of anger. Most of the time those children without an emotional outlet to turn to are the ones who succumb to violence.

Teachers are responsible in guiding students when they are in school and should equally be observant of brewing quarrels among peers and classmates. Teachers should watch out for bullying and gang fights in and out of the classroom, usually in school grounds like fields, gyms or hallways. Refer troublesome students for counseling and be prepared for crisis situation.

Students need to participate as well in trying to prevent school violence. Report untoward acts of bullying or peer pressure experienced or witnessed. Control your emotions and learn anger management. Know when to walk away in the presence of violent confrontations.

A safe school can be achieved if all would participate in its prevention. We need to strive hard to maintain a safe learning environment for the children.

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