Why do DCUM parents get so worked up about magnet and immersion programs?
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Anonymous
| MoCo let my immersion kid do math two years ahead, then DC went to a middle school magnet. Would I let DC trade places with the Tea-BAGGER's kid in private school? No way! |
Anonymous
Not at all. DC is taking Mandarin, but it doesn't particularly matter to me what if anything he does with it in the future. What he does in his future life is his own decision, all I'm doing is throwing a bunch of diverse tools and skills at him, which may have future potential, and seeing what sticks. If he were to later on move to Argentina and become a motorcycle mechanic / beach bum / painter / whatever and never touch Mandarin again - as long as he's able to make a living and be happy with whatever he's doing, I'm happy. At the moment, he's having fun with Mandarin - in fact, he's made a few mini comic books, written entirely in Mandarin. Plus, he's taking Latin, he's also already had Spanish and German classes (and will likely have more in the future), as well as some exposure to Italian. The more robust and diverse a linguistic foundation earlier on in life, the better - plenty of evidence out there that shows that. (And, no, I'm not a SAHM, and no, I don't particularly care where "Chase" or "Avery" go to school, nor who they are...) |
Anonymous
| Wannabe hippies..... |
Anonymous
Actually, helicoptering parents is about the polar opposite of the Hippie culture. Would you care to elaborate on your comment? Because it makes no sense on the face of it. |
Anonymous
Doubt that poster is capable of elaborating on it. Too bad his mono-language kids are going to be the serfs of the 21st century economy. |
Anonymous
Serfs? Really , why stoop to that level? |
Anonymous
| I am interested in language immersion because knowing a second language is one of the very few ways scientifically proven to increase your brainpower, openness, etc! It's probably not going to have an effect on dd's career or anything like that. |
Anonymous
This. There are many cognitive benefits for being bilingual. At least if they start before 10. Google the actual studies. |
Anonymous
|
RE language immersion, because learning a second language fluently in childhood is a fantastic thing. Google benefits of immersion and you'll understand why we chose it.
RE magnets, because the status quo can be iffy. See, e.g. Sligo Middle School (in our case). If we lived in Bethesda or Potomac, we would be far less focused on magnets and immersion than we are. But this is our situation, and we've made it work. |
Anonymous
1. "Pick up the basics" is one thing; fluency is another. Immersion confers fluency, in most cases (certainly in my kids' cases). Early is better w/regard to language learning. 2. Why French and not Spanish immersion? Because that is the lottery that worked out. In the public school lottery system, you do not get a choice, and in our view immersion is good regardless of which language you are learning. |
Anonymous
| Its because these other parents didn't want to pay more for their houses. |
Anonymous
| It's because they bought into the smoke and mirrors of sending their kids to low income schools masked as immersion and magnets... If they lived in DC and were told that Anacostia High School would prepare their kids for Julliard, they would send their kids there too... |
Anonymous
The local school for me is low income 
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Anonymous
Jealous? Got a cheap house and great school while you've spent a million on a house under the water... Ahhh living the dream! |
Anonymous
+1. For the part about cheap houses and great schools and now we can afford the ivy. LOL! |