Lifers with Kids

[teamblubee]

Hello Forumosa

A lot of foreigners came here to teach English, many stayed and have kids. Now all the English teachers past and present see how the schools are run, from public government schools to the private cram schools and all their different permutations. I'm interested to know how many lifers send their kids to public schools, private schools, home school, or a mix of all and why you decided to send your kids where you did.

[imlostinasia]

My daughter is currently in Grade 4, going to Grade 5 in August. We decided to send her to a government school and made the decision based on finance and well as the fact that she would be exposed to the Chinese language. In doing so I realized that the system is not perfect. There is no room for individual thought processes and that, frustrates me to no end. I complain about the homework that just goes on and on. I sometimes wonder whether or not to just keep her home in the mornings and send her to a cram school in the afternoons, as that is where most of the work gets done! I'm considering doing some homeschooling with her as well as I found out recently that this is now okay in Taiwan

[Pingdong]

When we finally have a kid, we are not sending them to schools here simply because we need to stay in the general area and the schools are terrible. Being Canadian they can get distance education for free, and do it through internet/mail. We will be doing that and home school. I have told my wife we will move back before we put them in school here, thats my own personal opinion. Nothing against those who send them to schools here, but *here* (pingdong) is somewhere a kids does not belong in school. Its one of the few things I am absolute and without any possibility of bending on.

[ChewDawg]

Being Canadian they can get distance education for free, and do it through internet/mail.

Really? That's odd because they've changed the law in many provinces in Canada now, so that now many distance courses cost money in country (my wife is taking courses and now has to pay).

I couldn't see provinces giving it free to a non-resident that lives in another country. Or if you are a resident and therefore eligible for the programs, doesn't the double tax really hurt on a teacher's salary?