Is the US education system really that bad?
Here, in Hong Kong, the US International school is highly regarded...
not that I'm racing out the door to send my daughter there because the curriculum clashes with what she would return to in Australia later on.
In Australia, my daughter went to 'family daycare' (5 children, 1 'teacher' in the teachers home) to help her with her socialization because up to that point (age 2), she was so clingy to me I couldn't be out of the room for 10 minutes without her getting distressed (and I'm not talking temper tantrums here... I'm talking 'fear'). That model worked wonderfully for her, and it only took her a couple of weeks to go from fear to begging to go to family daycare everyday (which she only went 2 days a week).
Move forward to where we are now, here in Hong Kong, it is "required" for her to be in school by age 3. She turned 4 last week, and because of this, despite the fact she hadn't done first year, she was still placed in second year of school at the school year start in September. She is in a proper classroom of 23 children, with 1 teacher and 2 teachers aides (but all fully qualified). While she is slightly advanced for her age, I was nervous about this. There is a LOT of pressure here on kids learning young and being pushed academically. Some parents here send their 3 and 4 year olds for extra tutoring (!!!) after school to make sure they are 'ahead', and some even go to the extreme of Saturday schooling and tutors.
Apparently the chinese saying goes "stuff the fruit with knowledge while it is young so that it will flourish when it ripens".
I don't necessarily agree with this in the literal academic sense it seems to have applied to it.
I've been relieved to find while my 4 year old does learn words, basic math, etc (plus mandarin.. national requirement), there is no pressure to "perform" at the International school we have her in. The only 'homework' she gets is a 'reader' book once a week. To get into the next level of school for September 2009, she only needs a certain level of comprehension and spoken english... (which the teachers assessed her as having when she walked through their door on day one... she's always been a jabbermouth).
So I guess what I am saying, is while the prospect of compulsory 'school' at age 3 scared me, it hasn't been a bad experience for us because our daughter isn't pressured into heavy academic learning (yet). When my 18 month old son gets to 3 though... that might be a completely different challenge.
I agree with whoever said learning is at home as well as school.
My daughter does as much learning at home with me (I'm a stay at home mum), if not more, than at school. Maths is everywhere in our house, but especially the kitchen. Concepts from music, geography, botany, astronomy, even biology are everyday questions, discussions, and often turn into activities. Language... because my daughter is bi-lingual.. she asks what this or that word is in cantonese, and we learn together (because I'm not a native chinese speaker either)... there is so much a child learns at home that people don't take the time to realise. Even their everyday play and imagination is a learning experience for them...
As much as I miss working (although not necessarily my career), and sometimes it gets tough (when you're asked by your (then 3 year old daughter) why babies come out of a certain orifice for example), and it can be more exhausting than doing a 10 hour day in a paid working environment, the personal rewards, quality time, and memories can not be replaced.
My husband and I actively made the decision for me to stay at home, and we have never regretted it. Our children get something we never got... time with one of their parents and a parent always there to come home to. In fact, our kids get time with both parents as my husband always makes time on weekends, and at night when he is home early enough to focus on them. To us, that is just as important as any 'formal' education they will get from schools regardless of where we are on the planet.
Lisa
