Schooling

I got these questions from a friend by email and decided to reply on the post.
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Here’s a list of questions that you can answer when you get a chance, either on email or on your blog post:
• You didn’t mention how you finally decided on the schools for your two girls. Or rather, if you had the free choice for both schools, for both girls, which ones would you pick?
• Academically, “British System” is more advanced than ”American System” in the beginning years. But it balances out in the higher years. Would you agree? Elaborate.
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Answer to first question!
You didn’t mention how you finally decided on the schools for your two girls. Or rather, if you had the free choice for both schools, for both girls, which ones would you pick?
=================My answers – If one had a free choice for both schools with same infrastructure, reputation and acceptability and you were only choosing systems – I would prefer British System as it follows a more structured approach and there is a more or less a rigid basic knowledge every child needs to attain at every level. So if you are a “wandering family” it’s easier also incase you are forced to switch to another system. It also fits you to any part of the world than an American system which is more apt for the American Universities.
Having said that we chose American System for my older daughter because we felt it was a great opportunity to experience infrastructure and extra curricular activities that she was never exposed too…also the foundation built in the prior 3 years was strong so I could take the risk and I continue to support Math’s and English extensively through home schooling.
Having done that, it would have been convenient to just let the younger one too continue in the American system. But it was not to be as we did not get admission so as a result of circumstances she went onto a British system which is great in retrospect….as at least she is getting assessed and foundation is being built up on literacy and numeric skills and I am aware of the targets….For any resources www.firstschoolyears.com is a great website for British System. I have been working with it at home with her and I can see the foundation getting stronger though slowly….