Freaking out

there are at least 3 outstanding private schools in stx [ unfortunately idon't know cost,but you could contact them] coutry day ,good hope ,and the manor. our friends who have lived in stx for about 30years raised their children there and they attended good hope school,both were accepted to e xcellent colleges and their daughter is a dr. in tampa fla.i guess what i am really trying to say id i have seen all their childhood pictures from childhood birthday parties thru graduation and always felt what a wonderful childhood to live in beauty and learn to live in amore diverse culture.they were invoved in multi activities along with sailing, diving girl scouts, tennis swim team etc. personally i feel it is a more gentler and kinder place to raise children than many places in the states.. again thi is just my opinion from someone who loves STX and is moving there in 2/3 weeks good luck

Linda,
Would you email us your email address. The one on here doesn't seem to work.

Also read the articles on rape in the paper. The underage rape of young girls concerns me. Rape is bad enough but to do the most heinous of all crimes to an innocent child?
It is far too common on STX. Sorry, the newspaper only prints the bad news but two articles on one page reported on two seperate child rape cases, today.

In no way am I minimizing the crime of rape. However, the two cases you cited involved 15 & 16 year-old girls, both of knew the men involved and one of whom is pregnant by the man who allegedly raped her. The stories can be read at the Virgin Islands Daily News website.

Why make it sound worse than it really is?

So there isn't a problem? Would it help if they were closer to ten? I don't see your point? You act like these are the only cases this year. For heavens sake, as a parent you aren't concerned? Older men are pushing themselves on minors.

ric we are between 2 emails right now!! since neither one of us are exactly computer greats i will give you 2 possibe adtresses .. if they don't work, ithink they will npost again and we will give you phon e # and local adress gabarral@bpsmail.org and virginsus2@aol.com keep us postrd love ya

Jenn and Mike,

Your concern is completely understandable.

The public schools are in a bind right now. The highschools lost acceditation not to long ago which hit the education system hard. I would suggest you contact the private schools suggested, find out the tuition, find out if they have family discounts - or discounts for parents with more then one child in the school, find out if there are scholarships and fincial aid, find out if there are military discounts that would apply for your family - might seem far fetched but you don't know unless you ask.

There are quite a number of non-native families (as you called them) or continentals, folks from the states if you like. Made a trip to St. Croix recently and went to the crab races, there were dozens of small children running around at that function, I'd say at least 25 kids were there between the ages of 1 year to maybe 12-13. At the yacht club I saw a group of about 7 kids learning to sail a sunfish (there were white, hispanic and black kids playing together there, between the ages I would say maybe 9, 10, 11 years old)

I grew up in St. Thomas; certainly it would be difficult for me to compare it to schooling and growing up in the states because I have not that experience to compare it to. However my elementary school years were good, lots of school things to participate in, sports were not strong however, but today there are more programs in the community for baseball, basketball, boy scouts - just need to look into them more to find them. Highschool I felt lacked a bit in terms of qualitiy of teachers but overall was positive as well.

I did have friends that were new to the island and to the schools. If I might replay the way they felt at the school and as new islanders perhaps that might help you. One new student was from Denmark but had family here, she adapted very well, and was very out going and open, around age 14. She was only there to try and learn English better so had no opinion really about the classes. Another student was from the MASS. again was outgoing, had an accent so was teased a bit, but got over it in a couple weeks. Another student was from another island, didn't like it, missed home, thought school was too easy... left for a year then came back and stayed - and adapted the second time around, still thought the classes were easy but got along fine. These were all girls and age around 14. The guys I knew seemed to take longer to adapt, but again once they found their group of friends were fine. I think the experience of moving for kids will be likewise to moving anywhere, getting used to the place, meeting new people, making new friends. I have some friends now that moved to the states from here and moved with their kids, the kids would cry and want to come back home, home being the islands - but now they have been there for 2 years and are doing well and have adjusted.

The school will be the main place for your kids to interact and be involved in things like sports, plays, arts and crafts, field trips.... might feel even more stranded if they are home schooled and not around other children. I would definately suggest you contact the private schools asap and look into the options there.

I think your kids will need to adjust, they will need your help, you need to meet other families, families with kids, find out where to go and what to do, the crab race as mentioned is a biggy with families and small kids for afternoon fun; as I understand on St. Croix there are other community family oriented groups or gatherings as well, meet other families and get details.

Partying on St. Croix is more low key, bar/restaurants, listening to live music. Cheeseburgers on the east end had quite a number of families with kids, eating, dancing having a good time and couples without kids as well. No real big party scene though. There is a casino there, often has live bands there as well. In the towns there are a few bars/restaurants and live performances from time to time.

Perhaps if this is an option, you could take a week trip down there, and check things out, visit the schools, go out and meet other families find out the scoop on what life is like for young families. You should order the Settlers Handbook as well so that you are familier with the islands, living there, government, roads, people, things to do.... you can order it from http://www.vitraders.com

Rock Fever - well it hits yes, particulary when you can't find something, or a service takes a way long time when in the states you know you would get it quickly, when things get a bit frustrating because it runs on island time, when you get in a verbal disagreement with someone about some stupid thing like a parking space, because there aren't too many spots to park say in Christiansted. A vacation to the states or to another island will help with that. LOL. Or head to the beach, lay in the sand and remember that you can't get crystal clear water in most places in the states. Lots of space for long drives also, if you are interested in that option (which is not a real big option on St. Thomas or St. John as they are smaller islands).

--Islander

Chris - I read about those cases and a few others... you are right it is a terriable crime and these are not isolated cases. I found the case with a mentally challenged adult particularly disturbing, however I do not know the details.

As for the cases you mentioned and Linda remarked about; Statutory rape is a problem in the USVI, an old problem - older men that date; some girls "date" these men willingly, others con the girls by inticing them by buying them jewerly, cell phones, giving the girls money, maybe the guy has a fancy car... in any case men that go after young girls and have sex with them in the course of their "relationship" or arrangement in not uncommon and is a problem. It is not uncommon to see older men in cars picking up young girls after school at some high schools in the VI. A problem for non-natives not really, depends on the crowd the young lady befriends, a problem in general, particularly among local young ladies -yes obsolutely. In many instances the relationship between young school age highschool girls and older men go un-prosecuted. I have known some girls who when a bit older married the man. In some situations the guy leaves the girl, or maybe the guy has more then one female partner, or is married and the situation gets reported as an almost revengefull act. And in some cases absoultely it is a forceful act playing on the innocence and naivity of the girl. Chris yes a problem but the context as always must be discussed as well.

I would further add that domestic abuse in the field of child sexual abuse is extremely disturbing and a problem in the USVI, not statutory rape as discussed above where you are dealing with 15, 16 year olds but small kids, 8,9, 10 by persons known to them and within the family or friend of family realm. It is a good idea to be familiar with your kids friends, the group they hang out with, the family of the friends... as you would in the states as well, just a good idea in general.

Good point Chris, safety factors for kids.

I had a friend (from St. thomas originally) who moved back from Maryland to St. Thomas with her young son (around 3 years old) because she felt that raising small kids in the USVI would be safer and friendlier, she was worried more so about kid-napping and kids getting lost in large open areas - then anything else. Had other friends who moved to the states with young kids because they felt the education would be better, those were older kids, and family couldn't afford private school.

So different factors to think about when it comes to moving with children.

--Islander

You should freak out if you are considering living in the USVI. Of course the public school is completely out of the question. Not to be even remotely considered. The private schools run from 6-7K depending on grade, but they have a fairly high teacher turnover rate. As far as the kids, you can be safe as long as you don't go out after dark. There is NO public place that is absent of the predators that you have mentioned. None, even the couple of "relatively" safe places must be TRAVELED to, which puts you in harms way. The predatory nature towards young girls is everywhere, the beach, grocery store, KMART, gas station, side of the road, parking lots, etc.

Good afternoon everyone,

Outsider here commenting on "what I've heard". Falls right below "he said, she said." I have an aquaintance who used to live on STX and recently returned from a 3 week stay on the Island. When I asked about his trip he said crime has gotten pretty bad. While he was there he said one store (don't know the type, mini mart maybe?) was robbed 6 times. The police seemed to think the owner was in on it. I also read in the VI daily news a while back about the couple that was shot in their car outside their home with no apparent motive or suspects (anyone heard anything about that? I'm curious but haven't read the paper in a while.) To be honest I didn't know what to make of Chris's frequent references to crime but it seems from what I've read (paper) that STX appears to be a little worse than the others. What do you guys think? Is crime a BIG problem, is it complacency in the police force, povery, lack of education, a combination of all of the above? When I was debating on which Island to relocate to, this became an issue for me and helped (among other things) me decide on STT. I've read this debate on the board before but I am interested in why STX "appears" to have a larger crime problem than the other islands or if this is just perception on my part.

Elle

ric and linda please post if this email doesn't work

I think there are serious issues with both STT and STX. Many problems that we have talked about on STX, I have heard, read, or seen on STT. I have seen a few things on STJ, like open drug deals, our couple of homeless people who will grab beers or food out of your car if it isnt locked(many STJ cars cant belocked), some men on women harrasement, a couple of house break-ins, theft, and a few fights. Most of these are alcohol related and could be easily prevented by police or victims. That said, there are no drive bys, murder, serious assaults, or violent crimes, at least that are reported.
I feel safe on STJ. I don't feel safe on STT and I am sure STX is no better. Obviously, you have to be aware of your surroundings but I think in STT you could easily be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I like being able to control when i do go over to STT and get my supplies and then get off that rock. I like being there with daylight. Maybe i sound like a country bumpkin but I come from a city of 70,000 next to Minneapolis.
I just dont feel the police force is going to deter anyone and the only thing that makes St. John feel safer is that you get to know a good portion of everyone. The police arent going to protect you. They might show up to pick up the pieces. This goes for all the islands. The Old boy network is alive and well.