International trip for 5th graders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only in DC with it's messed up school lottery system would there be complaints about an immersion language school giving their students the opportunity to visit the country where the language is spoken. It's a Chinese immersion school, the kids are going to China!

Doubtful there would be complaints if the parents had any connection or interest in China in the first place rather than sending their kid to a Chinese immersion school only because of their luck in the lottery and no other equal or better alternatives.

not a parent at YY, but based on what I understand from the previous posts, the school is not giving any child the opportunity to go to China; the school is asking each child's parents to pony up $3500 for the trip (I am a little doubtfull there will be enough funds raised to cover 75% of the costs). and this is a public school.

I wonder if it would be possible to organize a less expensive trip, maybe as an exchange with a school in China, in order to limit the costs of staying there.

[Anonymous]

It's the airfare. My experience runs around 2k r/t. The trip probably includes all meals and lodging, so not bad at all for 2 wks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only in DC with it's messed up school lottery system would there be complaints about an immersion language school giving their students the opportunity to visit the country where the language is spoken. It's a Chinese immersion school, the kids are going to China!

Doubtful there would be complaints if the parents had any connection or interest in China in the first place rather than sending their kid to a Chinese immersion school only because of their luck in the lottery and no other equal or better alternatives.

Crabs in a bucket. They'd rather claw you back in, then let you set yourself free. It's depressing that public school parents are so hideously jealous of the opportunities of other public school children. I guess this is why we should all move to Westchester? At least we'd all be bitchy together over our G&Ts?

Seriously, if you don't want your child to go to China or Montreal or Costa Rica or wherever, then... don't send them. But if you put your child in a public school knowing that there was a goal for that school to take a special, educational 5th grade trip, then the person who looks like an asshole for complaining about it is... you. You had years to plan, you didn't.

Some people in life will have more than you: more ambition, more determination, more energy. Some will have less. Teach your child to get used to it now.

[Anonymous]

"Some people in life will have more than you: more ambition, more determination, more energy. Some will have less. Teach your child to get used to it now. "

You should have the Pre-K students memorize this phrase in English and Chinese. Kinda of sums up the whole Yu Ying philosophy to the care and nurturing of young minds.

[Anonymous]

shame on both of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Some people in life will have more than you: more ambition, more determination, more energy. Some will have less. Teach your child to get used to it now.

I hope I don't know you. I hope you aren't a teacher. I hope you have no way of ever really shaping the mind of a young person. What you said there is monstrous. I don't believe in devils or angels but I do think what you are saying is an example of pure evil.

[Anonymous]

I think this is clearly a Yu Ying parent or other person who wants this trip to happen and is willing to crush anyone or anything that gets in their way. I don't think teachers are going.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a troll---embittered ex Yu ying parent or jealous person.

[Anonymous]

I think it's a great idea, but agree that it's too pricey for a public school. Bethune sends their 8th graders on a trip to a Spanish-speaking country every year. But it is paid for completely by the school and kids have to meet GPA standards in order to go.

[Anonymous]

Traveling abroad makes one smarter http://bigthink.com/insights-of-genius/why-traveling-abroad-makes-us-more-creative-part-ii

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Some people in life will have more than you: more ambition, more determination, more energy. Some will have less. Teach your child to get used to it now.

I hope I don't know you. I hope you aren't a teacher. I hope you have no way of ever really shaping the mind of a young person. What you said there is monstrous. I don't believe in devils or angels but I do think what you are saying is an example of pure evil.

I don't see what's evil about this. Some people do have more of some things and less than of others. None of us are identical. That's just life. You make the most you can of what you've got. All the wishing in the world in the world isn't going to make me look Zoey Deschanel, but I've made my peace with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Some people in life will have more than you: more ambition, more determination, more energy. Some will have less. Teach your child to get used to it now.

I hope I don't know you. I hope you aren't a teacher. I hope you have no way of ever really shaping the mind of a young person. What you said there is monstrous. I don't believe in devils or angels but I do think what you are saying is an example of pure evil.

I don't see what's evil about this. Some people do have more of some things and less than of others. None of us are identical. That's just life. You make the most you can of what you've got. All the wishing in the world in the world isn't going to make me look Zoey Deschanel, but I've made my peace with that.

Me either. It's the truth. The same people who think this is evil are probably the same ones against having a G&T program that actually tests kids for admissions b/c it's too elitist.

[Anonymous]

If a large % of the kids can't ($) or won't (comfort level) go, the trip should be set up as an optional summer trip.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't say it is elitist, but I can't fathom the justification to have it during the school year if only a third of the kids are going. Summer seems like a great time to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Some people in life will have more than you: more ambition, more determination, more energy. Some will have less. Teach your child to get used to it now.

I hope I don't know you. I hope you aren't a teacher. I hope you have no way of ever really shaping the mind of a young person. What you said there is monstrous. I don't believe in devils or angels but I do think what you are saying is an example of pure evil.

I don't see what's evil about this. Some people do have more of some things and less than of others. None of us are identical. That's just life. You make the most you can of what you've got. All the wishing in the world in the world isn't going to make me look Zoey Deschanel, but I've made my peace with that.

Me either. It's the truth. The same people who think this is evil are probably the same ones against having a G&T program that actually tests kids for admissions b/c it's too elitist.

Right. When exactly did it become politically incorrect to have G&T programs? And is the workaround to just create wealthy sub-districts - so that the baseline is high-performing, much like a private school?

Envy (and the encouragement of it) is an ugly reaction to other people's circumstances. If both of our children need braces, but you can afford them and I can't - should I be empowered to deny your child? It's not costing me anything, you'd be the one paying, so should I still have a vote?

For heaven's sake, if you don't like the trip just don't go.