Building an American Grade School v. Local ones

[Billy Bob]

As the community grows in Boquete and David. Would it be smart to build an American Bilingual School, or use the local ones four our children and grandchildren?

I would like them to learn good american conservative values. It would be nice to have one that has prayer in school and teaches Intelligent Design Creationism, instead of Evilution Darwinism.

I heard the 7th Day Adventist School are pretty good academically, but I don't buy the whole Sabbath thing, I don't think is in the bible.

[Lee Zeltzer]

And spelling too!

[Billy Bob]

Yes Sir, that too. I'm talking about The Four Rs: Readin', writin', 'rithmetic, and religion.

This is what I'm yapping 'bout:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Protected/Articles/000/000/00...

[robert sanchez]

Am American type school would go a long way in getting my wife over to Boquete.
We have five great kids , six months to eight years old, an education is the key. I'll be back to visit soon and will look into the education system as well as the school year which I believe starts in March-December.

[Billy Bob]

From what I have heard the Catholic private schools are very good and relatively inexpensive. I just don't understand as much about the catholic religion. The Morazan High School is a good public school, but that would be for older kids.

[Mike]

People who can try to send their children to private schools. That was true when I was in Panama and other CA countries as well as here in Ecuador. It is not the teachers. Many are very dedicated and work very hard. But school systems are underfunded. But that is the same as the States. When I was stationed in Atlanta, GA I lived in Gwinnett as their school system was rated as very good. I paid the "tax" of a 40 mile drive each way to Atlanta. In overseas posts embassy kids all go to international schools, not to the local school system (although having English speaking teachers may have a lot to do with that also...)

[Julio Santamaría]

El "Colegio San Agustín" and "El Consa", both in David are amongst the best private schools in the country. When it comes to Math, Science, Physics, Biology and Chemistry, they are pretty decent schools.

I got a friend who studied at el Colegio San Agustín in David and he just got his PHD from Berkley with honors and top of his class.

I went to one of them for 3 years and then moved to Panama City for High School because my dad started working over there but I felt that my school in David was as good as my school in Panama City. I also felt that I got to college in pretty good shape (I went to the Tec of Monterrey in México).

I would feel comfortable sending my kids to any of those 2 schools in David and I would know that if they turned out to be smart enough they would be able to get in any good university in the States or in Europe.

The only thing that stops me from staying in Boquete until I have a family that starts needing to go to primary school is the commute to David everyday… I don’t know if I want to put my kids in a bus for 45 minutes for each journey every day and make them wake up at 5:30 a.m. It could be good for their character… but I don’t want to wake up so early either

[Tracey Card]

Hola,
Do you know anything about the "private" schools in Boquete? I know there is Guadalupano(sp?) and the one at the church in town. Are they not good schools that you could send your child(ren) to instead of a commute to David? I have kids too but would not get them up that early nor wold I put them on a bus for that drive into David.

[Julio Santamaría]

Lo siento. I really do not know. I'll have to look into it myself.

About the buses... there are private buses that take kids (only kids) from Boquete to David... I wasn't talking about the big yellow public buses.

If anybody knows about the quality of the private schools in Boquete, please share!

[S]

What about starting a small adjunct community school? There are plenty of resources online and probably many with teaching experience in Boquete wanting to help.

I hope to visit soon and would enjoy meeting people there.

I have been involved in training teachers and teaching. For now I am in the cold US North east and hope to visit soon!

[Dennis Pridgen]

Hi Steven. My son and I are moving to Boquete from Maine hopefully by August when my house is ready. I am a retired teacher. I was a bilingual teacher for 25 years. I'm exploring the schooling possibilities for my son who is finishing 7th grade in June here in Maine. You have an interesting idea about "starting a small adjunct community school". I would be interested in knowing more about that.

[Mike]

Hi, off topic. Saw your house pictures. It is remarkably similar to what we hope to build on our land in the Santa Clara-Rio Sereno area. Wonder if you would be willing to answer some questions about your house off-line,

Mike

[Dennis Pridgen]

Hi Mike. I would be happy to talk to you about my house.