6 months
#61
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Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Orton, Ontario
Posts: 2,028
Re: 6 months
It is true that in the early years the schools here are academically behind their UK counterparts, however we have found that they focus on other aspects; presentation skills, public speaking etc. The level of work and quantity rapidly accelerates through high school and by the time they graduate they seem to be on a par. Last time I checked, 16 year olds in the UK don't have to go to school either. As far as truancy is concerned, if a child misses so much as a class then we get a phone call and an email informing us who was missing and which class they missed. We have found that the school system here has worked very well for our two boys, allowing them to be more relaxed through the early years gives late developers more of an opportunity to grow.
There is so much doom and gloom on this thread, I felt someone needed to present a different experience.
#62
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,746
Re: 6 months
Are you sure its the school system that you are frustrated with - or is it your teenage daughter's lack of attendance?
It is true that in the early years the schools here are academically behind their UK counterparts, however we have found that they focus on other aspects; presentation skills, public speaking etc. The level of work and quantity rapidly accelerates through high school and by the time they graduate they seem to be on a par. Last time I checked, 16 year olds in the UK don't have to go to school either. As far as truancy is concerned, if a child misses so much as a class then we get a phone call and an email informing us who was missing and which class they missed. We have found that the school system here has worked very well for our two boys, allowing them to be more relaxed through the early years gives late developers more of an opportunity to grow.
There is so much doom and gloom on this thread, I felt someone needed to present a different experience.
It is true that in the early years the schools here are academically behind their UK counterparts, however we have found that they focus on other aspects; presentation skills, public speaking etc. The level of work and quantity rapidly accelerates through high school and by the time they graduate they seem to be on a par. Last time I checked, 16 year olds in the UK don't have to go to school either. As far as truancy is concerned, if a child misses so much as a class then we get a phone call and an email informing us who was missing and which class they missed. We have found that the school system here has worked very well for our two boys, allowing them to be more relaxed through the early years gives late developers more of an opportunity to grow.
There is so much doom and gloom on this thread, I felt someone needed to present a different experience.
My son is only 7 and has already had to do a project which involved presenting the whole project (concept, design, making it and how it works) to his whole class and teachers. I was impressed with that because like you say it's focusing on public speaking - something that is good to get them used to at a young age. I never did it at school and would hate to do it now!
#63
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: 6 months
Its not all doom and gloom - just a bit of a shell shock at how different schooling is here. The physical aspect of his issues have been dealt with now I am pleased to say. (One of which I dealt with myself by having a quite word with a boy in the playground.... I was perfectly nice but it hasn't happened since!)
My son is only 7 and has already had to do a project which involved presenting the whole project (concept, design, making it and how it works) to his whole class and teachers. I was impressed with that because like you say it's focusing on public speaking - something that is good to get them used to at a young age. I never did it at school and would hate to do it now!
My son is only 7 and has already had to do a project which involved presenting the whole project (concept, design, making it and how it works) to his whole class and teachers. I was impressed with that because like you say it's focusing on public speaking - something that is good to get them used to at a young age. I never did it at school and would hate to do it now!
As part of my accounting designation I had to do a course in public speaking. It doesn't bother me at all now.
#64
The Brit is back
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Re: 6 months
Are you sure its the school system that you are frustrated with - or is it your teenage daughter's lack of attendance?
It is true that in the early years the schools here are academically behind their UK counterparts, however we have found that they focus on other aspects; presentation skills, public speaking etc. The level of work and quantity rapidly accelerates through high school and by the time they graduate they seem to be on a par. Last time I checked, 16 year olds in the UK don't have to go to school either. As far as truancy is concerned, if a child misses so much as a class then we get a phone call and an email informing us who was missing and which class they missed. We have found that the school system here has worked very well for our two boys, allowing them to be more relaxed through the early years gives late developers more of an opportunity to grow.
There is so much doom and gloom on this thread, I felt someone needed to present a different experience.
It is true that in the early years the schools here are academically behind their UK counterparts, however we have found that they focus on other aspects; presentation skills, public speaking etc. The level of work and quantity rapidly accelerates through high school and by the time they graduate they seem to be on a par. Last time I checked, 16 year olds in the UK don't have to go to school either. As far as truancy is concerned, if a child misses so much as a class then we get a phone call and an email informing us who was missing and which class they missed. We have found that the school system here has worked very well for our two boys, allowing them to be more relaxed through the early years gives late developers more of an opportunity to grow.
There is so much doom and gloom on this thread, I felt someone needed to present a different experience.
We get emails and phone calls too but I asked the school to take us off their calling list as we can't do anything about it apparently and neither can they so its pointless.
#65
Re: 6 months
Most of the research suggests that most kids do [academic achievement] just about the same whether they're 'home-schooled' or not. Does sort of beg the question.
#66
Re: 6 months
Yes I am frustrated with my daughter, of course as I know she can do really well and pass all her subjects, but she has had enough of school.
We get emails and phone calls too but I asked the school to take us off their calling list as we can't do anything about it apparently and neither can they so its pointless.
We get emails and phone calls too but I asked the school to take us off their calling list as we can't do anything about it apparently and neither can they so its pointless.
#67
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Joined: Oct 2007
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 1,370
Re: 6 months
Troublesome teens will be troublesome teens regardless of the country.
#68
The Brit is back
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Re: 6 months
Huh? Perhaps, since my kids are not yet teenagers, I'm being hopelessly naive, but I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying here. She's your daughter: presumably you're responsible for feeding/clothing/housing her? It seems somewhat to be shirking responsibility to just throw up your hands and say "we can't do anything about it" if she's cutting school. Isn't it your job as a parent to prevent, or dissuade, a child from making decisions they will regret later in life?
#70
Re: 6 months
Huh? Perhaps, since my kids are not yet teenagers, I'm being hopelessly naive, but I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying here. She's your daughter: presumably you're responsible for feeding/clothing/housing her? It seems somewhat to be shirking responsibility to just throw up your hands and say "we can't do anything about it" if she's cutting school. Isn't it your job as a parent to prevent, or dissuade, a child from making decisions they will regret later in life?
#71
The Brit is back
Joined: Apr 2010
Location: NS, Canada 2007-2013. Now....England!
Posts: 2,211
Re: 6 months
Well before you judge me, I haven't actually passed off any responsibility at all and have actually tried many different avenues to try and keep her in school.
I was originally trying to get across that I am finding it frustrating that kids over the age of 16 years old are allowed to leave school with no diploma, or qualifications behind them. So why then, if schools officially run until they are 18, are they not made to stay in school until then?
My daughter is actually still attending school, just skipping lessons, she hasn't dropped out and that is mainly because I am coaxing every day and I will continue with one big push until June.
You cannot make an adult over 16 attend school and the schools cannot keep them there, that is my point!
I was originally trying to get across that I am finding it frustrating that kids over the age of 16 years old are allowed to leave school with no diploma, or qualifications behind them. So why then, if schools officially run until they are 18, are they not made to stay in school until then?
My daughter is actually still attending school, just skipping lessons, she hasn't dropped out and that is mainly because I am coaxing every day and I will continue with one big push until June.
You cannot make an adult over 16 attend school and the schools cannot keep them there, that is my point!
#72
Re: 6 months
My son is only 7 and has already had to do a project which involved presenting the whole project (concept, design, making it and how it works) to his whole class and teachers. I was impressed with that because like you say it's focusing on public speaking - something that is good to get them used to at a young age. I never did it at school and would hate to do it now!