Teachers and Parents

Well, after the verbal attack I received a few days ago, I'm not touching this or any other post pertaining to schools on island with a 10-foot-pole! However, you can read all about it in the post titled "New Move" further down this page.

Good luck!
Lisa
(mother and substitute teacher)

Broad appeals for general information are more likely to yield anecdotal and emotional responses that may not reflect the reality in a useful way. Do you have more specific questions? Most folks here will do their best to answer, and most will give you the context for their answers so you can better judge whether the answers you get fit your situation.

I grew up poor and went to some horrible schools. That being said after seeing the public schools here there was so way I was sending my 3 kids to public school here. I was able to make something of myself despite my poor education but didn't want my kids to have to struggle that way because my husband and I decided to move to the VI. The actually physical condition of these schools here is shameful. The education in my opinion seem to be a year or two behind what my kids were doing stateside. So for us private school was the only option.

Jeff, what it will all boil down to is this: Do a lot of research, talk to parents if you can and visit the schools you're considering. Then (and only then) make the best decision for your family. My kids are thriving here in the school that we chose. They love the school and the friends they've made, and I truly enjoy volunteering and subbing there. Please feel free to PM me with any specific questions, and I'll do my best to give you the answers if I have them. Stay involved in your children's education and follow your heart!

Lisa

I'm not a teacher or a parent, and I don't even live in the VI (yet), so I don't have much of a right to post on this... but... I wanted to make a comment on the recurring comments about the poor physical facilities of the public schools. I've done my medical training in a handful of county hospitals in various states, and many county hospitals are very old, falling apart, dirty, smelly, etc. Included in my list is Charity Hospital in New Orleans... pre-Katrina, of course. It had leaks in the stairwells, wires hanging from the ceiling, mildew in the call rooms, etc. BUT the education I've gotten at all of these hospitals has been phenomenal. Medical school spots, residency spots, nursing school spots, at these places are in huge demand, and it's not because of the shiny new facilities. It's because of the education. I interviewed at some of those sparkling, fresh, clean places, and I didn't want to stay because I wouldn't have learned as much there. You can't judge a book by its cover.

Good call, and well said Roadrunner. I am a highly qualified/highly certified educator,and my wife and I are praying that I can get a classroom with the public school system there. I taught in a low SES/migrant/rural community, and it was hard but rewarding. I am a dedicated and professional teacher, and no matter what the school "looks" like, if the teachers inside are dedicated to their students, and willing to do whatever it takes to see that their students succeed, then l see no problem with the public school system. Again, I am not trying to stir the pot, but we, as teachers, and parents must work together for the kids. I really enjoy the reluctant student, or the one who is struggling, that is when the professsion gets fun and creative. 😎

cansdt0529 - Good luck in your job search! My mom was a teacher and talked me out of the profession, but she was just like you... loved the challenge of a struggling student. I wish all teachers had the same passion, because if you don't love it, it shows in the classroom!

Lisa

I grew up poor and went to some horrible schools. That being said after seeing the public schools here there was so way I was sending my 3 kids to public school here. I was able to make something of myself despite my poor education but didn't want my kids to have to struggle that way because my husband and I decided to move to the VI. The actually physical condition of these schools here is shameful. The education in my opinion seem to be a year or two behind what my kids were doing stateside. So for us private school was the only option.

Right on Jennn(tu) you worked hard & persevered!

You not only earned the ability to have better schooling & a future for your children, you earned my respect by doing so!(and that doesn't come easy).

I also respect teachers with the passion to make their students learn (whatever their level is).

Thank you Lisa, that means alot, I am passionate about teaching. I don't care what people have to say about "middle schoolers," they are going through growing pains, but all the innocence isn't chipped away yet, so they are fun. Yeah, we deal with some situations that aren't fun, but in the end it is all about dedication and passion. I just want to come home to my bride at the end of each day and know that when I lay my head down, that I made a difference. I know that sounds somewhat romantic, but as hard as it is, teaching is beyond rewarding. I worked as an aerospace/defense quality engineer for a long time, and when I got the opportunity to become an educator, i jumped on it like a duck on a June bug. I also took a massive pay cut...8-) Our relocation to STT is much the same; coming as soon as we can get there; classroom or not...
I hope you have an enjoyable evening

Ok heres a start my wife is not so keen on moving down to the VI. Her main concern, as it should be, is the education and well being of our children. From most of what was told to us by locals when we were down there is the public schools are in need of some major improvements. They all had good things to say about the private schools. I've done some research and found lots of good private schools only hump being the cost. So I guess I would like to know how parents and teachers feel the education of children is? What are the strengths and weakness of the schools?

This topic seems to pop up more than any other. I wish our Moderator would "pin" such topics to the top of the discussion board, or create a sub-forum for it. This would keep us from repeating ourselves every month in a new thread (and opening old wounds).

My 3 points on-topic:

1. There is a difference between being an awesome teacher who wants to dedicate themselves to help in a troubled school system, and being a PARENT making a decision to put your own kids in that system.

2. There is a difference between the primary and secondary school experience here, as there is in many school systems. I would not put my kids in the secondary school system here -- IF I had a choice. If I didn't have a choice, I would probably not choose to come here. Why roll the dice with your kids when you know the odds will be stacked against them?

3. There are more private schools in the USVI than public. And more students go to private schools than public. That should tell you something

Thanks for the feed back Neil

"my wife is not so keen on moving down to the VI."

This is a huge red flag. One of the more common things that happens here is that the spouse who wasn't keen in the first place quickly decides they were right and either makes everyone's life miserable or just packs up and leaves.