I agree completely. If only every post here had as much such clarity as this one.

It's richer than me

Isn't it awful when bad things happen to good sentences

hoisted by my own petard

The sentiment was from the heart!

Hoist with his own petard;
Hold a mirror up to nature;
How now? A rat?
Dead, for a ducat, dead!
In my heart of hearts;

"Hoist with his own petard" literally means "blown up with his own mine." More generally, a "petard" is a hat-shaped device which can be be charged with gunpowder.

Learn something every day!!

Nurse! Nurse!

Come quick! Mr Rivingtonpike is out of bed again!

Only because you are not paid appropriately for what you do. Which is wrong.

I wasn't intending to post on this thread as I don't have anything useful to say to the OP and I don't do empathy very well.

Of course, being petty and rude is an ideal way to chastise others for being petty and rude.

People read this forum for information. If someone posts something as fact do you really expect others who know the supposed "fact" is not true at all to say nothing?

Yes, as I said they were behind but as also stated by other member's Canadian schools start later and boy do they catch up. As a UK Teacher who taught both in high school and at university level I think the Canadian system eventually exceeds the UK level.

If, and I mean if your son was ahead of the Canadian system then he should be doing his homework in half the time - if he is taking the 3 hours then it is new material for him. People have mentioned getting your son into hockey - yes it is the major sport but there are other things. You mention his guitar - then get him into a music/theatre group. Canada offers kids WAY MORE than the UK does.

I truly believe you are using your son as an excuse. For a 12 year old boy to be crying in his room I'm sorry to say that he sounds like a mommies boy instead of a young man. My daughter joined ice skating and sitting in the stands with all the other parents it took me a while to get past the cold to realise this is what families do - have fun together, join clubs, encourage each other - learn new things.

Ultimately I think you are depriving your son of the opportunity to develop. You talk about life and doing things as a family - well what do you want to do, what do you plan to do when you go back - what clubs as a family are you going to go to - or is your son just going to hang out with friends and therefore there is no family time. This whole posting has been contradiction from the first and nothing rings true. Also what is your OH's company going to say if he goes back - I am assuming they put a lot into getting him over both in time and finances.

Don't put all this blame onto the education system - if you are such a good teacher then help your son with the homework - guide him in a direction suitable for him. Not every child can do it - I might be clever and my husband a near genius (and I mean that!) i don't therefore expect my kids to be the same - so long as they are happy. If it means I make changes to the school they go to, or just support them in the process then so be it.

I now work in a University in Ontario and yes entrance levels can go into the 80's but they can also go down to the 60's. It depends whether the child wants a degree or to be on the Honors List - that choice will be your sons - IN ABOUT 6 YEARS - he is after all only 12.

Get yourself a job - it doesn't have to be in teaching. Like the UK , Canada is over run with teachers and the unemployment levels are high - same as the UK, unless you are main subjects - English, Maths & Science.

Have you done the usual family things like bowling - we had a ball (no pun intended!) doing that. Try joining in, not fitting in, it makes such a difference.

Gibber Gibber Cluck Cluck!

I like that.

Ah, I see, you are superior to teachers like me who choose to teach children in disadvantaged areas. My apologies for challenging your much more accurate view of UK education. (BTW, I was educated at Public school, I just like to work in the real world.)

[/QUOTE]The higher standards are certainly better for the children and with a new flexible approach to the curriculum, even better.Canadian schools are behind they are working two years behind.AND they don't teach to the individual needs they teach on mass.BTW, this is one of the better schools.[/QUOTE]

The standards aren't better in the UK, schools just manipulate the results to make them look better. Also, the phrase you are looking for is actually 'en masse' - from the French. Look it up. (So much for top 10%)

[/QUOTE]Its no wonder the country has gone to pieces when we keep knocking,the one thing I will say for Canada, they know how to stand by their own. patriotism would go a long way, with some people.[/QUOTE]

Patriotism is not about claiming everything about your country of birth is better than anywhere else. That is bigotry.

[/QUOTE]So you are not actually here,try the boat then tell ya story.[/QUOTE]

My husband moved there in August with a job he actually had to go and get through merit and I am keeping he home fires burning here alone until PR comes through. When you have committed as much effort and made as many sacrifices to getting to another country as we have (rather than riding on the back of a husband's work transfer), then you can talk.
Now, don't you have packing to do?
[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't normally post on this, but again I have to agree with this poster. It sounds as though you are being played and agreeing to what your son wants. 5 months is not long enough to make any decisions. You need 2 years to settle in any place and you are going through the known down period. All of this is documented re moving to a new country. I have a 12 yr old son. We came here 4 years ago. He is happy and has mates. Yes he plays hockey and also soccer. Plays guitar and piano and has homework too. The schools offer programs for all levels of ability andi f you're not sporty there are plenty of other activities. You just have to look for them.

I got a job at a uni after 2 years (I'm an engineer but doing an admin job). It gets you integrated.

I know you probably don't want to hear this, but I really do think that the tail is wagging the dog here and you are looking for a reason to go back. It's your choice and this is obviously a biased forum, but there are thousand of people who spend time/money to get here and would love the chance that you have.
Even if you stay 2 years, your son would go back before gcses and so nothing lost there. You need to give it a chance, but only if you want to.

Don't think i have contributed anything else but it was my 2ps worth.