Wedding Etiquette Forum

Interesting

WWYD?  A family is thinking of moving to this area for a couple of years for a work contract of the H.  They homeschool, which is illegal here.  So, they sent out a request for what they could do, since they don't want to put their kids in an international school here.  They want to continue to homeschool on US curriculum for the 2 years they will be living here.

Personally?  I think it's weird.  Really weird.  They miss out on so much experience of just being here if they're not allowed to meet people from other countries.

Re: Interesting

  • Couldn't they attend regular school if it doesn't meet the parents requirements, teach them what they wanted to AFTER school or on weekends?
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  • Also, it depends on the ages of the children. I wouldn't home school high schoolers. I don't know that much crap. I'd only do it, like, kindergarten through 6th grade. I'm also assuming that they're not religious nutjobs, because if they were they'd never move to a godless socialist society like Sweden. So I'm not sure why they're totally opposed to exploring other options.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:8acfc6a6-7b78-41e0-bbed-ab44176a5791">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE]Couldn't they attend regular school if it doesn't meet the parents requirements, teach them what they wanted to AFTER school or on weekends?
    Posted by avsfan33[/QUOTE]
    Regular school would be taught in Swedish. ;)

    I'm kind of fascinated by these people and half want to meet them just so I can find out what their like.
  • Hah I didn't think of that. Whoops.
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  • I also wouldn't trust a US legal organization on this since I'm pretty sure they have no idea how strict Sweden is with their child abuse laws.
  • Eh, I think if they still want to homeschool them, fine.  I would be sure to educate them in other ways though by experiencing a new culture and country.  Take them to museums, sign them up for classes, camps, etc.
  • I have no inherent problem with homeschooling, but I agree that part of the cool thing about living abroad would be interacting with the locals.  Also, many homeschool because they are worried about the quality of the local schools.  Most international school far exceed "normal American" schools.

    Especially if it's illegal, in their situation I'd have the kids go to the international school and then if the family feels there's a deficiency in the curriculum, they can do that part on their own at home.  Problem solved!
  • Homeschool is illegal there? Weird. But I guess they have their reasons. I am actually not a proponent of it.

    As far as this couple is concerned, if the schools aren't that bad there or they can choose a private school, I definitely would do that. It is not worth the risk getting caught not to mention the US not approving them living out of the country and what not. What if they didn't approve the kids to "pass" to the next grade and all?
  • aplatanadaaplatanada member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2010
    Did they give a reason for homeschooling? When I lived overseas I knew a few ex-pats that did it because their kids had developmental problems or conditions (like autism, etc) and the schools in some of the places I lived simply did not have special ed type programs. In order for the kids to get the education they needed, they had to be home schooled.

    Aren't there American schools where you live? I mean, even when I lived in developing countries there was almost always an American school with an American curriculum...

    But yeah, from my ex-pat days, having a family was a *great* way to become more integrated into local society. ETA: And that was largely due to involvement in kids' schooling, etc.

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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:f2ee0314-4a33-4f7c-b38f-241b7999e87d">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE]I also wouldn't trust a US legal organization on this since I'm pretty sure they have no idea how strict Sweden is with their child abuse laws.
    Posted by Snippylynn[/QUOTE]

    Why don't you respond to them with that? <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" />
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  • I wouldn't homeschool to begin with, but in this case I would send them to the international school.

    I don't agree with all the English educational curriculum so we will not send our kids to public school, however they will still need to attend full time when they are 4 because it's the law.  

    PS I am a teacher in an English public school.  
  • SnippylynnSnippylynn member
    2500 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2010
    I think homeschooling is illegal so that the government can standardize the education received by everyone to make it more "fair" and to ensure that everyone actually attends school. 

    There are no "American" schools here, there are, however, International schools that are taught to the UK standards.

    ETA: I assume if it were because of developmental or disability reasons, the parents would have mentioned this in the email. 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:bc59831f-9f66-48c9-b865-b47a815dd6bc">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE] <strong>There are no "American" schools here, there are, however, International schools that are taught to the UK standards</strong>. ETA: I assume if it were because of developmental or disability reasons, the parents would have mentioned this in the email. 
    Posted by Snippylynn[/QUOTE]

    Huh! I stand corrected.

    You're probably right about the developmental stuff. And even after I posted that, I thought that Sweden is so progressive they probably have good systems for developmentally challenged kids.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:01239fb7-8bd2-4f84-956e-366b90ed3c01">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Interesting : Huh! I stand corrected. You're probably right about the developmental stuff. And even after I posted that, I thought that Sweden is so progressive they probably have good systems for developmentally challenged kids.
    Posted by aplatanada[/QUOTE]

    <div>I teach special needs, mostly autism in an English school so I guess I left a bit out.  Anyway, if I had a special needs child I <em><u>would not</u></em> put them in a school which spoke a different language esp. if they had a communication disorder as it would be too difficult to learn a new language.  </div><div>In that case I think I would home school if the international school did not offer a good alternative, which the usually do not.  </div><div>
    </div><div>Actually I told FI if we have a child with special needs we are going back to the US ASAP.  </div>
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:57eb992f-2fa1-476b-a894-4435cde9cac6">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Interesting : I teach special needs, mostly autism in an English school so I guess I left a bit out.  Anyway, if I had a special needs child I would not put them in a school which spoke a different language esp. if they had a communication disorder as it would be too difficult to learn a new language.   In that case I think I would home school if the international school did not offer a good alternative, which the usually do not.   Actually I told FI if we have a child with special needs we are going back to the US ASAP.  
    Posted by NCV2[/QUOTE]

    This. That would be a huge load on the child, especially when combined with a different home environment. I can understand the desire to keep some consistancy.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:2b5dc0ec-9f4a-4911-9a17-91b7fb8178e6">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE]The only reasons I can think of to homeschool is A) the school district is horribly underfunded and put-together, or B) religion. Sounds like they may have religious views for the situation you're talking about, but I agree it is weird.
    Posted by srkropf[/QUOTE]

    <div>My friend is planning on homeschooling her 3 year old in the beginning due to his severe allergies.  He is allergic to 7 of the top 8 food allergens (including wheat, dairy, chicken, soy, peanuts and tree nuts) and 4 or 5 of those are anaphalactic (sp?) reactions.  The schools will not allow him to keep an epi-pen on him, it needs to be kept in the nurses office.  Too many horror stories of kids with allergies dying in schools when it takes too long to get the epi-pen to the child.  She is planning on homeschooling him until he his 9 or 10 and fully understands what he can and cannot eat and the consequences of eating the wrong thing.</div>
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:2b5dc0ec-9f4a-4911-9a17-91b7fb8178e6">Re: Interesting</a>:
    [QUOTE]The only reasons I can think of to homeschool is A) the school district is horribly underfunded and put-together, or B) religion. Sounds like they may have religious views for the situation you're talking about, but I agree it is weird.
    Posted by srkropf[/QUOTE]


    I can think of several more reasons.
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  • edited December 2010
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_interesting-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:49ae9e01-2231-4182-9f06-99242e2bffebPost:b206211d-7ed9-454c-8351-6e878ab82b53">Re: Interesting</a>:
    <p>[QUOTE]Aren't there American schools where you live? I mean, even when I lived in developing countries there was almost always an American school with an American curriculum... </p><p>Posted by aplatanada[/QUOTE]</p><p> </p><p>I was going to type something useful in response to your question Amoro, but then I read this post and threw up all over myself...</p><p> </p><p>PS: The international schools which you're referencing presumably teach in English, yes? There seems to be a little confusion (not from you, obviously, but from other posters) in this thread around the language at which the international school (not 'regular' school) will teach.</p>
  • iamjoesgurliamjoesgurl member
    2500 Comments Fifth Anniversary
    edited December 2010
    I think that if the parents wish to homeschool their children to keep them on the track that they are on, it should be fine.  I think that they should make sure to involve the children in activities where they can interact with other students.  Since they are on a temporary assignment, it makes sense that they might not want to put their children into a school where learning is at a different level/on different curriculum and then pull them out in a couple of years to homeschool again.  Of course I'm assuming that since they are not citizens, they would have the right to do this, but if it is truly illegal, the children should be in school.

    I know several homeschool moms and for their children, it is the best decision. (That's not to say that it is right for everyone, but in these cases, it is.)  Each of the parents I know who homeschool their children are involved in co-ops where there is classroom learning and they have a lot of interaction with other students in other ways (sports, church activities, neighborhood interactions, etc.).  They have each told their children that if they ever want to attend public school, it is the child's choice.  So far, all of the children prefer to be homeschooled.  
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