Foreign spouse views on social class seperation

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

private schools in America ..have the same issues as public...the only differnece..not culturally or ethnic blended as much

Interesting you mention that. There is a growing problem with "white flight" in Australian schools. Where Anglo-Australians are sending their kids to private schools to avoid the tossed salad of public schools..

I think the place where I noticed the biggest class differences was India.

Maybe other countries haven't been forced to integrate and accept different races and economic differences so seperation has been acceptable in their countries. US Americans have been taught to be careful in everything we say and do to not offend anyone because they are poor or a different color. I think we should all be colorblind and only form an oppinion after knowing someone, only my opinion.

[Heracles 417]

private schools in America ..have the same issues as public...the only differnece..not culturally or ethnic blended as much

Interesting you mention that. There is a growing problem with "white flight" in Australian schools. Where Anglo-Australians are sending their kids to private schools to avoid the tossed salad of public schools..

I think the place where I noticed the biggest class differences was India.

Maybe other countries haven't been forced to integrate and accept different races and economic differences so seperation has been acceptable in their countries. US Americans have been taught to be careful in everything we say and do to not offend anyone because they are poor or a different color. I think we should all be colorblind and only form an oppinion after knowing someone, only my opinion.

And you know what, I would not call it a successful melting pot either. What I can see happening here is that the average Americans are being forced to shut-up and take it while people are permitted to migrate here and do as they please. Without ever actually assimilating or integrating with other Americans. I see it at work where a lot of Indians, well educated, only socialize with each other and speak Hindi when together. Most of them have been here for over 6 years now. Celebrating other cultures and diversity is one thing but having it forced down your throat is another.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Peikko 1,575]

That's your evidence? People who have a different first language (first generation immigrants - if they are even here permanently) should speak English even when they are talking together?

I think you need to evaluate your evidence. I think there is some, but that isn't it.

[pedroh 21]

have to say though talbert.. the discipline here in US schools is nonexistant compared to Mexico..

to start with we don't treat high school kids as elementary kids... in Mexico they expect you to be a grown up in high school.. not a lame 'he's only 17 years old boy'.. LOL.. by 15yo my dad was treating my like a grown up.. and teachers are way more respected too, not a 'but its the teacher's fault my kid is failing'..

true, there are some lame-####### private schools that will only kiss-####### to the parents, but the good private institutions don't tolerate bs... like the college I went to.. we have a limit of absences before failing hte subject, if during your whole career you fail 10 subjects, they kick you out of the whole system (it's several campuses) and u are not admitted again

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

And you know what, I would not call it a successful melting pot either. What I can see happening here is that the average Americans are being forced to shut-up and take it while people are permitted to migrate here and do as they please. Without ever actually assimilating or integrating with other Americans. I see it at work where a lot of Indians, well educated, only socialize with each other and speak Hindi when together. Most of them have been here for over 6 years now. Celebrating other cultures and diversity is one thing but having it forced down your throat is another.

I don't really think that classifies as being 'forced down your throat'.

I am pretty sure that if I lived and worked in another (non-English speaking) country, and some of my co-workers were American, that I would speak to them in English. It is simply more efficient to speak in your native language than a second or third language, regardless of how long you have been speaking the other languages. Unless you were raised in a bilingual household, you will always be able to express yourself more clearly in your native language.

I don't see why this bothers people so much. They're not talking to you, so get over it.

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

There are good and bad in any school, public or private but I get the impression that in Mexico at least there is more of a distinct seperation based on discussions with my wife. My wife has 2 nieces that went to private school and the level of education is higher in the private schools over the government schools.

In the States, many feel the same way. However, they don't take into consideration that private schools can hand-select the students that attend; they can also expel students that are disruptive. Public schools don't have that option. I am all for comparing apples to apples or oranges to oranges, but public and private schools don't follow the same set of rules...

With that said, I would never voluntarily leave public school teaching; I love my job. I like the diversity of classroom vs. the sometimes nearly homogeneous classrooms in private school. I love being challenged every day! And I have learned more about the world around me from my students (rich, poor, and middle class of all types of ethnicites) than I could from any book.

[tom&tata 2]

My wife has been looking at the school systems here compared to Mexico. She went to private schools and most of her family has also. Her mother worked very hard to put her and her siblings in private schools so they would have better opportunities and fewer bad influences. My wife said that different economic classes did not mix when she was in school. She said here in the US she sees poor and rich together in the schools and friends. She doesn't see the seperation here which is good.

I guess that really depends on where your beneficiary comes from, as to where I live (am from), school is not free both public and private. Public is somehow cheaper so those from low economy class will tend to go for public schools. It doesn't intentionally split up rich and poor though.

When I went to school, people who can afford it goes to private school because of the good learning experience & the discipline (I went to catholic school).

Nowadays, I think the public school (at least in Jakarta) has stepped up. Some of the public school now is designated as the "leading" school for the area where they are allowed to hand-select students (with scores & admission test).

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

I havee a 14 year old that is in public school and after what I see I am thinking about private (catholic) school for our baby. We have been researching private vs public here and the structure and expectations in the classroom are so different. I guess I was a good kid because I always tried to do well and didn't choose friends that were bad influences. I went to public school here and state college with no problems. The kids now are not the same as they use to be. What we have observed in private school here is much better that what we see in public schools.

[Gaby&Talbert 1]

have to say though talbert.. the discipline here in US schools is nonexistant compared to Mexico..

to start with we don't treat high school kids as elementary kids... in Mexico they expect you to be a grown up in high school.. not a lame 'he's only 17 years old boy'.. LOL.. by 15yo my dad was treating my like a grown up.. and teachers are way more respected too, not a 'but its the teacher's fault my kid is failing'..

true, there are some lame-####### private schools that will only kiss-####### to the parents, but the good private institutions don't tolerate bs... like the college I went to.. we have a limit of absences before failing hte subject, if during your whole career you fail 10 subjects, they kick you out of the whole system (it's several campuses) and u are not admitted again

My wife has said the same thing, that in Mexico if you don't do what you are supposed to in school they suspend you and you repeat the year, if you miss more than 3 days you loose the year.

[msu17 0]

I havee a 14 year old that is in public school and after what I see I am thinking about private (catholic) school for our baby. We have been researching private vs public here and the structure and expectations in the classroom are so different. I guess I was a good kid because I always tried to do well and didn't choose friends that were bad influences. I went to public school here and state college with no problems. The kids now are not the same as they use to be. What we have observed in private school here is much better that what we see in public schools.

Where I'm from, there are lots of excellent public and private schools. However, several of the private schools have had LOTS more problems with drinking, drugs and sex than the public schools. If I had a school age child where I live now, there is NO WAY they would go to a private school.