Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 20:25     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
It sounds like the neighborhood school folks are sipping on the Kool-aid too. Trendy folks love to call other people trendy.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 19:22     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry there's such an "us vs. them" attitude about immersion. Totally unnecessary. I'm bullish on it, but that's just me. No judgment to others who chose something else for their kids. I think the kids without the immersion will be just fine. Let's pick something else to fight about. The energy here put towards better school options would do so much good.


Best post in this thread. The way OP asked the original question did have a judgemental flavor to it, but in the end it's great that parents on both sides of the "prioritize immersion / do not prioritize immersion" feel good about their choices. It's not a competition, but so many are making it sound like one. In the end this energy really would be better spent on improving schools instead of a passing contest about types of schools.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 19:06     Subject: Re:Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language.

When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics.


Stop by Oyster when you have a chance, you'll disabuse yourself from both of those notions.


Oyster is impossible to get into if you are monolingual and OOB.


And somehow that fact negates the fact that they do both immersion and the basics well? Riiiiiiight...
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 19:02     Subject: Re:Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .


I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language. Sure they can say many words and a few sentences but they aren't really fluent. When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics. My fear is that the language exposure is actually limiting them. I'm even looking at white only (aka non FARM) and not impressed. So I don't think you can get STEM at immersion (at least not in DC). And yes I have seen the studies (no need for links).


"No need for links," or facts for that matter. You sound willfully ignorant.


How so? Let me elaborate. All of the "studies" I have seen have no bearing on DC kids. Any way you cut it, immersion in DC (save Oyster) is not all it's cracked up to be. More important to teach reading, math and science.


I am not going to waste my time looking up YY, LAMB, and MV 's test scores and comparing them to oyster because (1) Oyster Adams does not teach grammar to their elementary students. I think grammar is important, especially when learning a language, especially if you learned Spanish at home from your parents. (2) I would not put my kid in a school where yelling from teacher is condoned (3) I hate Woodley Park. Before you say I can't afford it, I can, and I used to live there until I sold my house for a ton of money and bought in a nicer neighborhood.

These are my choices, which is why I wouldn't and never did try to enroll my kid at Oyster. I am not trying to disparage the school, but Oyster has lots of problems (do a search) which even necessitated an overhaul and a new principal. And again, it's never okay to yell at a child (also do a search on DCUM) especially if you're in a position of power such as a teacher or librarian.

And if you don't want immersion, don't bother with it! There are tons of people who want a spot at these schools. I think it's great that you're not going with the conventional wisdom and leaving more spots for those of us who care.


Oyster teaches grammar well enough that its students consistently score higher than students at ALL of the other language immersion schools in DC. Or maybe Oyster students are just naturally brilliant--you don't really have to teach them anything...they just know
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:54     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
I'm sorry there's such an "us vs. them" attitude about immersion. Totally unnecessary. I'm bullish on it, but that's just me. No judgment to others who chose something else for their kids. I think the kids without the immersion will be just fine. Let's pick something else to fight about. The energy here put towards better school options would do so much good.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:35     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:because nobody really knows how to do immersion and it's basically just a fad


+1
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:29     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:because nobody really knows how to do immersion and it's basically just a fad


you do immersion by ditching the English except at home and living in a foreign country and going to a local school. Parents do "that" to their kids all the time and it is considered ok. Most kids catch up in English eventually when they come home..........
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:26     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
I would give my child a yard first.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:21     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
because nobody really knows how to do immersion and it's basically just a fad
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:15     Subject: Re:Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think people pick immersion because they like the idea of being able to say, "My kid speaks two languages!" It makes their kids sound smarter than your kid .


I have yet to meet an immersion kid (from monolingual family) that actually speaks another language. Sure they can say many words and a few sentences but they aren't really fluent. When I look at the scores (specifically advanced and at LAMB and YY) I don't see kids excelling in the basics. My fear is that the language exposure is actually limiting them. I'm even looking at white only (aka non FARM) and not impressed. So I don't think you can get STEM at immersion (at least not in DC). And yes I have seen the studies (no need for links).


You realize you are talking about STEM for elementary school. My DC who is really good at math is happy at Yu Ying and we don't feel the need to push or accelerate math in 2nd grade. My brother was a math prodigy who skipped high school to attend Johns Hopkins. We are also happy with his progress in English and Mandarin both of which he tests above grade level although he has a tutor for Mandarin. It's elementary school, they learn to read and write.


Good your boy is above level. He's the exception not the norm. Only 8% of YY testers are testing advanced in reading.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 18:04     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Also, the overzealous drank-the-koolaid parents that ask "how could you not give your child such a precious gift?"


This.


I suppose we might feel less secure about just speaking our second language at home (and not even so often now) and opting for pure academics if my husband had not had a similar experience, and even less exposure to the language from age 7 until he took it in 7th grade, and now no one would ever know he had some years where he did not speak it for long periods and did not know how to read or write it properly until high school. We made sure it was the first language our kids spoke, the experiment seems to be working. We felt sure of ourselves and really wanted an academic focus - which we still did not feel we got enough of at our JKLM.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 17:44     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:We are at an immersion charter but supplement with a math tutor and private instrument instruction each week. I feel like I can supplement where the school could be stronger, but I can't creat immersion at home.


If you couldn't afford the tutor, what type of program would you choose?
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 17:41     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
We are at an immersion charter but supplement with a math tutor and private instrument instruction each week. I feel like I can supplement where the school could be stronger, but I can't creat immersion at home.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 17:24     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Count me in the camp of it just isn't a priority to our family. I don't understand why others are incredulous about that answer. It also isn't a priority for me to avoid gluten. Do you have an opinion on that? Keeping a pristine house? Also not a priority. Raising a happy, healthy, resilient and confident child? A priority.


I share your views. It's actually a bit of a silly question.

Totally agree.
Anonymous
Post 05/08/2015 17:22     Subject: Why wouldn't you pick immersion?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The only reason I wouldn't choose immersion is if my child were language delayed.


+1 otherwise, it is such a wonderful gift to give your child.


We didn't pick immersion because we don't really love our child that much.



Yes. Exactly right.