Is there an independent school that exposes children to non-European cultures and religions?

[Anonymous]

NP here. OP, it is a little bizarre that you seem not to appreciate that in the U.S., naturally the U.S. will be given pre-eminence in curriculum. I lived in two other countries growing up (although I am American), and in both countries (one European, the other not), that country's history/language/culture was the one mainly taught, and that is how it should be. It seems willfully obstreperous on your part to criticize a country's history as merely a "blip" and suggest that because the U.S. has been around for less time than, say, India, that U.S. history, etc., should not be focused on, in schools in the United States!

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP; I didn't mean that Hannukah was a largely silly and made-up tradition, I was talking about Kwaanza, which has no historical or religious basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm American-born, but my husband isn't. He's from a small Arabic speaking country that's also never discussed very much. A global education is also important to us. What I'm about to say may sound harsh, but I don't mean it that way. My husband fully expects the school to teach our kids everything. That's how it was in his culture and he sees no reason why it should be any different here. Perhaps you are the same?

I feel very differently, and I supplement my children's education with books, projects, music, art, and travel of our own to help them learn about the world at large. They are also attending a very small private school (far out in the burbs), with an IB Primary Years curriculum. It's pretty international in scope for an elementary school, but I wouldn't want it to be the sole educator for my children. They also attend a weekend Islamic school, not for the religion but for the language. We also have a large group of friends from a variety of countries. For my kids, having a circle of friends where 5 or 6 languages are spoken is the norm. I certainly didn't have that growing up, and think it's fabulous.

It's the sum of life's experiences that help shape children into global citizens, not just what school they attend.

OP here. I think I am a bit like your husband! In my country, the best schools taught everything and our education was extremely varied and wonderful. I am not used to such a narrow viewpoint. Even such a narrow wonderful viewpoint! I can tell some posters are getting upset about perceived criticism of the U.S. The only thing I am criticizing is the narrow world view, which as I see now, starts in school and seems to continue. And I've said before. Its probably because you are such a powerful nation that you can afford to not acknowledge so much of the world. And perhaps some history here too. America developed sort of in splendid isolation because of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and peaceful Canada to the north and helpless Mexico to the south.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP must be the nut on the Public Schools forum that thinks private school contribute to "educational apartheid" and that parents who choose to send their kids their are making an immoral choice. Ignore her/him OP. My kids went to DCPS (before we moved them private and contributed to "educational apartheid" despite the fact that we're black!). The only "multicultural" exposure they got was to learn about Hannukah and Kwaanza -- which I consider to be a largely silly and made-up tradition anway. I don't think you're going to find the school you're looking for among the private schools here, but you sure won't find it in DCPS either.

Not necessary to belittle and name-call those with whom you disagree. Seems childish and defensive. No one here needs to be told to ignore any posting. We can read and decide for ourselves.

BTW, you most certainly can contribute to "educational apartheid" regardless of your race. It is about segregating the educational opportunities in DC into the haves and the have-nots. Yes, there are many of us who view this as a moral and ethical choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: It probably is a good thing to study one's own country in somewhat greater depth. But U.S. history is only a few hundred years. Should not take a lifetime to cover that.

Actually, it can take a lifetime (or at least be a life's work). But a year is a good start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The German School.

Uhmm.....how exactly is the German school exposing children to non-European cultures and religion? By teaching them English as a second language? French or Spanish (as spoken in Spain) as a third? What??

[Anonymous]

Many of you adults who speak "from experience" that in your overseas school you just learned about your home country: you also speak from a time when there was less globalization. This is a new era .... it is important to learn about other places. Unfortunately, there are lots of highly important things to learn about, including math, science, writing (in English), etc., etc. Kids today have a big burden. But the answer is not to study a wholly Anglo-based curriculum (with a little Kwaanza sprinkled in).

[Anonymous]

Doesn't college play a role here as well? Colleges offer a range of history and culture classes and that is the point where students have more flexibility to take classes beyond the foundational courses. Most high schools require 2-3 years of history and there is only so much you can cover in 2-3 years. I agree that one of those years should be US history. So that leaves 1-2 to cover the rest of time? Covering modern world or european history doesn't seem like it is that far-fetched a choice.

Here are some of the non US history classes offered at my DCs HS:

Global Civilizations
Modern World History
AP World History
Genocide in the Modern Age
AP Comparative Government and Politics
AP European History
International Politics and Global Issues

[Anonymous]

OP, it's unclear whether you are looking for a private that offers a true multicultural experience, or one that focusses on Asia/Africa/India, which be definition wouldn't be multicultural in the true, wide-ranging sense of the term.

In any case, why would you expect an "elite" school (which you clearly want, as the publics are apparently gross and "shocking") in the US to downplay the US itself? This simply isn't going to happen. Just as top schools in India are "multicultural" in the sense they teach not only lndian history but also US and European history to prepare their graduates to work in the US and Europe, for the exact same reasons, US schools need to train US kids to work in the US - and China, so plenty of privates and those shocking publics offer Chinese (english being OK for India).

So frankly OP, I agree with the poster who said you are an elitist. I also think you're trying to pick a fight, because you know that no "top" private you are aiming for would have a curriculum that *doesn't* prepare kids to work in the top economic power (while teaching them chinese, which you appear to disdain). Are you by any chance the author of the "Americans can't do laundry" and pumpkin threads, and are you currently tossing out spurious anti-American quips on the FARM thread? If so, it sounds like you'd be happier going home. We wouldn't mind if you left, trust me.

[Anonymous]

new poster here - I don't think we need to react hyper-specifically to the particularalities of the OP - the main point is the question of whether schools are offering either world-wide or non-western history/socio-cultural curricular exposure in a solid way. As a secondary question is there cultural diversity among parents/families from non-western countries and does that change the intellectual experience for the student or the fit for the students, especially those who are non-western. It's a legitimate practical question but also a very interesting one from the politics of education and identity in USA angle. I'd be interested hearing more from the practical angle - I think most of us could construct our own theses from the politics angle if we were writing this up for a college essay.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I feel a bit misunderstood frankly. I don't want just Asia and Africa, but it would be nice to find a school that teaches ABOUT Asia and Africa. I don't have anything against Latin American culture studies. I don't disdain China or the Chinese language. And the "shock" regarding public school was simply because I have toured my local school and looked specifically at this angle. What I saw was that the curriculum was quite devoid of social studies of any kind in the early years, and then only U.S. in later years. Perhaps there is a public school that teaches about literature from various countries, but its not mine. So I am a bit stuck there. I expect American schools to teach U.S. history but wonder why they don't generally teach anything but. PPs have pointed out exceptions to this, and one smart person noted that the problem probably stems from the fact that teachers don't know much about many parts of the world. Because college curriculums are also quite euro-centric. I have a feeling that no matter what I say that some of you will stick to the, "get out foreigner, if you don't like the only U.S. history all the way" approach. I know many Americans, despite being from other countries themselves, are deeply suspicious of all foreigners. This is partly why schools need to teach that we're not that exotic and weird, just people with different cultures, histories, literatures and all that can be good to learn about. As for accusations of elitism, I thought I was posting on the private school board?

[Anonymous]

I think OP is at least unrealistic at best, and at the worst trying to pick a fight. A school with a core focus on India/Africa/Asia is not going to prepare kids to work in the US or Europe which, for now at least, are where the big economies are. Conversely, OP's "wonderful" school that taught her own culture plus US and western culture did so for pure economic motives - because that's where the money is.

One model that would prepare kid's well would combine a western curriculum with Chinese. There are plenty of private and public (I'm shocked!) schools in the area that offer this type of combination.

Seriously OP, I doubt your wonderful school spent a full year on Africa. I won't ask about Latin America because for some bizarre reason you don't think it's important.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds like a real snot to me.
1. She doesn't include Latin Americans in her definition of multicultural.
2. Public school, where her kid would meet actual Somalis or Africans or Hispanics (oops) isn't good enough for her.
3. WIS isn't good enough because there's still a western focus. Or maybe it's all the Spanish speakers there that people on this thread have mentioned.
4. She says that a year is too long to spend on 200 yrs (did we forget the Indians and pilgrims) of US history. Ignoring the fact that in any school her kid attends, he/she is going to be a small minority in a class of Americans who DO think it's important.
5. Teaching Chinese or Arabic, and my kid's school offers both, is not good enough. For reasons she can't be bothered to convey to us.

In other words, US private schools toss out all that US-focussed garbage and focus their curricula on OP's needs. (Whatever they are, it's unclear if she wants multiculturalism without the Hispanics, or a multicultural school.)

[Anonymous]

I found one: The High School for Global Citizenship
883 Classon Avenue Brooklyn , NY 11225
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

maybe Op could move up there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is a troll.

This. She feigns surprise when her disinterest in an entire continent (Latin America) and her "shock" at the public school suggestion are used against her. Then instead of doing a little introspection (apparently not her forte), she accuses us of being (a) ignorant and (b) xenophobic Americans.

I've lived abroad for long periods of time and speak three languages besides English. OP, if you're for real, I hope you don't choose my school.