public schools

I was told by a public school teacher to NOT to put my kids in public school,that's a mouth full on it's own.

This is a well discussed subject...I am one of the few public school advocates on this board...I am willing to answer any questions you may have after you search the board, that way it's not redundant.

Must one have been dundant before one can become redundant?:D

We have a son starting first grade in the fall and our daughter will be in 6th. From what I've read academics isn't the issue. It's social problems. There is no way we could afford private schools so public is the only option. We have social issues here as anywhere. We live in a small community about 50 miles NW of Phila. seems like every month we are reading about teachers sleeping with students and drugs and bullly's. So whart social issues stand out there?

If you heard academics wasn't the issue, I'm sorry but you heard way wrong. Teacher's here don't even need a degree. Some barely speak english. Some schools have basic problems like running water. You really must come for a PMV if you have kids. There are tons of drugs here and all the problems you have stateside. I grew up in a border town and drugs were easy to get but it is ridiculous here. Seriously, come down and do your homework.

Betty from where do you get your information? Teachers have always needed a degree in the public schools( even in the virgin Islands), perhaps you mean they did not have a degree with education credits. NCLB has changed quite a bit of what is required for teaching in public schools. Parochial schools have always dont their own thing. Do some more research!

I disagree with that as well...

I HAVE 2 kids in public school...the academics are not bad at all....as a matter of fact their curriculum was a little ahead of Good Hope (Private School here)...My children HAVE NOT been exposed to any kinds of drugs or drug talk WHATSOEVER while in public school. I am there all the time...I am the VP of the PTSA. The problem with the public schools here is the conditions and social acceptance of stateside kids.

Your kids will be fine in Elementary school here, especially if they are going to Pearl B, Strawberry or Lew muckle.

Saucress they hire people all the time that don't have their teaching creditals, but they will also hire people who do not have degrees.

Do your PMV, you'll see that the public school system here is horrible. I can't imagine letting any kid go to one of these schools.

Also there is really very little in the way of extra curricular activities. Nothing like what is offered stateside as far as sports or things like UIL. Every once in a while they save up and take a trip somewhere or play against other islands but frankly it seems a little lame compared to what I got to do in school. But not every kid likes to be challenged and compete.

This just goes to show that people will believe what they want without any factual basis....Last year when we moved here I bought some of that garbage...but after putting my stateside kids in public school for a year, I am here to tell you it is just that GARBAGE....

Elementary School - Bad School conditions...No Problem with putting your child in there...NONE not even social...the kids will get along just fine

Jr High- Bad School conditions, some social acceptance probs

Central- I would NOT recommend it (I went there)

"some barely speak english"..............WHAT????????? Are you referring to the way we speak??????

lol...if I was referring to the way cruzan accent or cruzan accent I wouldn't be living here. There is no way I could have survived here if I didn't understand it. I've met several "teachers" from down island that could truly barely speak English.

Once again here are FACTS from someone who has kids there....There is soccer, baseball, steel pan, meterology club (That just went on a field trip to PR, my daughter went)..there is a computer club, after school mentoring program, 4H, i could go on...but I am here to tell you...if you want to know about the public school...ask someone that is informed factually and has even a modicum of experience with the public school system.

I'm sorry you're taking it as a personal attack. But you know most stateside kids don't do well here in public school and when they end up going back they are usually behind. I applaud the fact that you are trying to make the schools better but that doesn't change the shape that they are in now and I would not recommend them to anyone's kids.

Do your PMV Dan and see what you think. Talk to as many people with kids as you can when you come for your PMV.

Yes I do take it as a personal attack because I and the majority of my family and friends are product of the Virgin Islands Public school systems...and we are all doing just fine.

"most stateside kids don't do well here in public school"
Betty I don't have any information to support this or knock it down, what I can say is...my daughter looks like an islander...so that helped her being socially accepted in Jr High...most of the teasing she gets is because of her stateside accent...and most of the time they are just being kids and asking her to say different things...My son on the other hand is blonde hair green eyed and he is doing great in elementary school, he thinks he is full Crucian!!...and he will be A LOT stronger because of the public schools here....In this sense...

We have met other stateside kids that go to private school that know NOTHING about our culture, my daughter's friend that's stays over sometimes has been here close to 5 years...knew nothing about jo-jo, sapodilla, quenip, jouvert....but she knew lots about jump-up and st patty's day stuff...my kids are in the culture, they know it...they appreciate the island more.

Betty you give some of the BEST advice on this board, I consider you an asset to the board, but not in this field...this is one subject we will always bump heads on

I find that there are many people in the VI who have strong opinions about some of our institutions- schools and health care are two big ones- and no horse in the race. I would listen to Yearasta about schools because the knowledge is first hand.... And Betty, I do love you and your Kindle...:D

Well EE, we agree about most things, but not when it comes to entrusting our families to local public education and health care.

I moved to the VI with a school aged kid and would never have enrolled him in the local public school system. And I am grateful that so far I've been able to have my family's medical needs met during our visits to the states. I have not heard very many positive things from local parents with kids in the public schools. And while I know some people who have had positive experiences with the local hospital, like the owners of your favorite east end restaurant, there are many more with stories like Mark Marin.

I think broken families are the foundation of our social ills. I think poor public schools are responsible for much of our crime problem. I think poor health care is impacting our collective quality of life. Moreover, I don't think most people are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to enact change, because it is much more difficult than complaining.

If I could not afford to meet my family's educational and medical needs without local public education and health care, I would not live here.

Edited to add: Yearasta, We have different life histories, so please don't view my perspective as any sort of reflection on the choices you've made. I am pleased that your experience with your local public schools has been positive.

I agree we always bump heads on this subject. I'm glad there is someone who can speak well of the public schools because I think the posters benefit from both sides. And I'm being very honest, I've never heard another parent speak well of the public schools here. And I think my native born island friends to stateside island friends is a fairly even ratio. Frankly I haven't posted on several of the last ones because I don't want to fight, but I was floored by what Dan said. It probably just because he's never been here.

But either way I'm sorry I hurt you.

Another take on public schools.

http://cruciansinfocus.com/2009/06/03/our-children-deserve-better/

Yearasta is right on about the public schools. My son is in private school because he has health issues. Elementary schools for the most part are good here. I have several friends who teach school here and they are in no way behind. The problems in the schools here are conditions of the schools not the teachers or education. Jr. High and High School there is a problem with acceptance for stateside children. Again not the quality of the education or the teachers. Betty is dead wrong on these teachers not having degrees. In public school they must have degrees. In the private schools however they do not have to have degrees. I had a very bad experience with my sons teacher in private school who has no degree in anything other than gossip.

Betty you do not have a child in school here. I agree with Yearasta that for the most part you give good advice but on schools you only have the input from people you talk to.

The schools are getting better with our new governor and with parents like Yearasta and with people like me who support the public schools and help them get what they need to educate our children.

Young children here do not see race or cultural differences and again there is not a problem with stateside children attending public school when they are young. As more and more stateside children are enrolled in public school things will change with the older children.

My husband and I are both teachers in the public school system. I teach at an elementary school and my husband is at a junior high school. I'm not sure what age your children are, but that would make a big difference in your decision making. I absolutely love what I do, and believe that there are some very fantastic teachers in the schools. The only way you can make the decision about the public schools is to come down here and walk through the schools, talk with the teachers and decide what's best for you and your children. The most important thing you can do is to STAY INVOLVED in your child's life and keep the lines of communication open. Get to your know children's teachers and get involved in the school. You and your children will be much more successful in any school this way.

Feel free to PM me with specific questions if you have any.

Yearasta, I respect your opinion, but it's not widely shared by many of the people I know.

Given that they said they can't afford private school, I must assume that they can't afford to make a mistake either.
IF they get down here and discover you were wrong and the schools aren't good enough, THEN WHAT?
....Then they are forced to either stay on island at the expense of their kids' education and well-being, or spend money they probably don't have to leave the island and relocate somewhere else (again) leaving their island dream ruined. Even if their chances of finding good public teachers and a good public school are as good as 50-50, would you take that bet? I wouldn't, not with my kids.

Another option: homeschooling. There are quite a few on island who do it.

"teacher in private school who has no degree in anything other than gossip."

Would that be the college where Hedda Hopper has an endowed chair?????:D

Betty [ PM ]
Re: public schools new
June 23, 2009 02:42PM Registered: 2 years ago
Posts: 1,789
If you heard academics wasn't the issue, I'm sorry but you heard way wrong. Teacher's here don't even need a degree. Some barely speak english. Some schools have basic problems like running water. You really must come for a PMV if you have kids. There are tons of drugs here and all the problems you have stateside. I grew up in a border town and drugs were easy to get but it is ridiculous here. Seriously, come down and do your homework.
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I'm sorry Betty, but I'm in the process of relocating and I qualify to teach in NY but not in the VI. I need about 18 more education credits and I have to pass one more test for St. Croix (NJ requirements to teach are similar to VI except when I contacted the Department of Education in St. Croix, I was told I could only teach high school once I got my credentials due to my BS being non-educational, and I was offered a job in an elementary school in NY and have years experience in the school system)...

I'm not joining the band wagon, but as the poster stated, private school wasn't an option and you do want him/her to have the facts and that's just not true.

I do have a young child and I was advised not to put my child in the public school due to corruption and the funding not really being allocated the way it should...

Ok guys perhaps we need to clarify. Just what makes a " good school system".

You must come down and see for yourselves. What works for one family will be all wrong for another.