Comments on: An Intimate Experience with a Prestigious Private Dual Language School http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/ Raising bilingual and bicultural kids Thu, 26 Jul 2018 07:12:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 By: Rosalinda http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-343649 Rosalinda Tue, 21 May 2013 17:28:46 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-343649 We are very fortunate where we live. Our local district has 40 or so schools with 15 schools offering a dual immersion program in Spanish/English and many are offering a third language (Japanese or Mandarin). These programs are in high demand with parents camping out to get spots in kindergarten. We have also found that most of these school perform well on standardized tests so families are moving into these areas to enroll their children. We live in Chula Vista, California about 30 minutes north of the Tijuana border.

]]> By: There’s More Than One Route to Multilingualism… Right? | SpanglishBaby™ http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-327398 There’s More Than One Route to Multilingualism… Right? | SpanglishBaby™ Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:49:14 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-327398 [...] verdict is in! Our daughter was accepted into the private dual language school I wrote about last month. The question now remains whether or not she will [...]

]]> By: Andrea http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-311419 Andrea Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:04:45 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-311419 I hear what you are saying and agree that it is a complicated dilemma and one that we all struggle with (between political commitment and individual goals). Beyond the issue of the education options, we feel that there is an important value we want to teach our child about access to education and that’s why we won’t (at this point! Because you never know!) consider private school. The other issue you mentioned, about diversity, also struck a chord with me. If we have a choice, we don’t want our child to be the only “other than English speaker” or the only child that isn’t white. Good luck with your research (my phd is in literature and my husband is writing his sociology dissertation)!

]]> By: suzanne mateus http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-311209 suzanne mateus Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:59:45 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-311209 Hi Andrea,

Thank you for your honesty. Your concern is something I have thought about extensively and part of the reason why I have decided to pursue a doctorate. Here’s the deal. I have decided to separate (as much as I can) my advocacy/activist roles as a researcher and my role as a parent. In other words, though I believe in the “battles” I am fighting for in public education and feel very much called to them as a researcher and teacher; I have decided not to include my daughter in those battles with me.

Being wait listed as made me reflect on that a lot, but at the same time I hope my daughter does get in so that I can help other students have the same option. The school has full scholarship opportunities which means I will definitely be trying to open up doors for others, but one of the only ways of doing that is by being a member of the community first.

]]> By: Andrea http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-310761 Andrea Mon, 25 Mar 2013 03:32:27 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-310761 Wow, I can’t help but feeling that it was a good thing your family was wait listed. I would find the non-diverse, privileged and exclusive atmosphere of that school too much to stomach. I hear you on the benefits–we all know the benefits of a dual language, student centered education–but personally I want my children to understand the democratic value of free, quality and public education for all. I intend to struggle for that for my kid…and everyone else’s kids too!

]]> By: Xochitl Oseguera http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-309686 Xochitl Oseguera Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:04:49 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-309686 Great post Suzanne! And yes, we also went through an intense application process when my son started his German language preschool, it felt like we were applying for college!
Xochitl

]]> By: Bilingual babies, duct-taped theft deterrents & pay-for-traffic schemes | Christine Gilbert http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-309251 Bilingual babies, duct-taped theft deterrents & pay-for-traffic schemes | Christine Gilbert Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:20:59 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-309251 [...] The experience of applying to a dual language school [...]

]]> By: suzanne mateus http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-309186 suzanne mateus Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:33:01 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-309186 Hi Kathleen,
Could not agree with you more about how competitive it is to get in for ALL dual language programs. So glad you were able to get into one! Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Kathleen http://spanglishbaby.com/2013/03/an-intimate-experience-with-a-prestigious-private-dual-language-school/#comment-309184 Kathleen Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:29:57 +0000 http://spanglishbaby.com/?p=34294#comment-309184 Wow, sounds like a tough admission process. It’s not just private schools that are tough to get into, even the public dual immersion schools are hard. I called repeatedly when I was trying to get my daughter enrolled. I finally begged for a meeting with the principal, after being told she is the one who makes the decision on who gets in. My husband thought I was crazy for what I was doing, but it worked!

Yes, people are finally realizing the value of multilingual education! People in my area camp out, sometimes overnight, to have a better chance on getting into the dual language programs. Seems its just as difficult to get the kids into the public school programs.

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