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.

[Allan]

Discussions are good as well. I agree that us non-Panamanians trying to change something that many Panamanians accept and embrace is not the way to go. The post started out talking about building an American Grade School though and if going that route, why not do the "right" thing and leave all religion and all prayer out of it. Those opposed to that idea could then either home-school fully, or offer the religious component of the education at home, or send the child to church to learn about religion.

[Judy Sacco]

Why was a banned troll allowed to post?

[Lee Zeltzer]

Opps I need to eat a crow. Billy Bob was not banned. I believe he was /is one of several Bradley alter egos. Could be wrong but since this was a viable topic it remains here to discuss.

[sunshine]

I have no experience of American schooling but, in Britain and Ireland, discipline among young folks went down the tubes when they banned flogging in the classroom.

I recall our headmaster (and this was in my first school - primary school covering ages 4 to 11 years old) had a cabinet full of canes. He'd regularly take one or other cane out and test it, by whishing it through the air. It kept us all on the straight and narrow and certainly helped focus attention.

A good flogging never hurt nobody.

[Dennis Pridgen]

You know, there is an "American School" in David. They have a website.: www.americanschool.edu.pa
They have up through 9th grade.

[Joy Koopman]

Well, I'm almost afraid to even comment on this as I don't want to bring down Fire and Brimstone on my head, but as a Christian myself I wanted to mention a couple of things. First, you're talking about "good american conservative values", which I'm really not sure what you mean by, as there's some darn good liberal Christians out there. I'm also going to assume when you say "American" you mean people from the United States.

Of course, there's nothing at all wrong with parents from other countries who want to jump through the hoops to start a private school that mixes education with a particular religion - but since even in the "Christian" religion they all don't believe in the same things, one would think parents would have to open a plethora of private school to accommodate all Christian beliefs (and please, call it what it is, not this "Intelligent Design Creationism" - it's about whether or not one believes we were created by God - which by the way I do believe). Also, if one is going to start a private school, why not have it accommodate children of all ages, not just the young ones.

My personal opinion, and that is all this is, is that it is the parents responsibility to teach their children about the religion they, the PARENT, thinks is the "One", not a school teacher. A parent who believes in a particular religion should take their child to Sunday School. My parents took me to Sunday School every week, then as I got older took me to church on Wednesdays and Sundays. I still pray daily. In other words, my parents gave me a good foundation that after almost 50 years has stayed with me. But it was MY choice what I chose to believe and what I believe to this day - it wasn't forced on me and certainly not in school.

The school teacher should be focusing on educating a child in reading, writing, math, science, history (please, let's not forget history so we stop repeating the mistakes from the past), English/Spanish, literature, as well as the arts and sports (which can be beneficial to help keep kids out of trouble). If a child is being taken to church regularly and, say in high school, also learns about the "Evolution" theory in Science class - they are old enough to make the decision on what "they" believe. Just because I learned about Darwin's Evolution Theory didn't mean I stopped believing in God and the fact we are all created in his image and likeness - though even in the Christian Bible there are two versions of "Creation".

Maybe if kids were allowed to be who they are and believe what they felt was right for them, they wouldn't be so angry and go into schools and kill their fellow classmates and teachers. I'm from Colorado and vividly remember the tragedy at Columbine; like most mothers around the state, I cried for a long time thereafter. The first time my son's school went on "lock down" I nearly had a heart attack. Schools in the States spend more money on "metal detectors" and "security guards", than for classroom supplies and decent salaries for teachers - who by the way are the ones teaching our "future leaders". Guess that explains a lot.

So take your kids to the church of your choice so they have a good foundation, then as they grow up be supportive of whatever "they" choose to believe in.

PS Sunshine, it was the same in Oklahoma, USA, back in the 60's & '70's - and the most we did to be "disrespectful" was go behind the school building and smoke cigarettes. We didn't kill our fellow classmates and/or teachers - though I'm certainly not advocating bringing back corporal punishment. I do know though from personal experience that getting the "paddle" a couple of times in high school certainly got my attention. With my son, though, the most he ever got from me was "soaped" exactly two times when he decided to go over the line - worked more effectively and I didn't have to lay a hand (or board) on him.

[Linda]

I am new to this website, but am considering moving to Boquete. What type of schools are there in Boquete? Are they all government owned or private? What grade levels are there?I currently live in Mexico and and teaching English in a bilingual school. I am considering moving to Boquete, but am curious about the school systems. I would be interested in possibly teaching there if I decide to work again. I would appreciate any information that you may have related to schools in Boquete.

[Lee Zeltzer]

Despite the racist start of this thread there is a wealth of information in it. There are both government and private schools, as in most places the private are usually better than the public.

Your work issue might be complicated by the type of visa you use to life here so be sure to do that research. If you are a tourist or piensonado you cannot take a job.

[Michelle]

This is a scam!!!!! WARNING SCAM!!!!

[Jorge]

My wife and I had a school that was non accredited in Boquete (2004). The instruction was done in English offering grades one to 7. The curriculum was based on a Canadian Educational system. The school was comprised of Panamanian children plus North American children. In order for them to move forward, we found that at some point in time we would have to be accredited by the Panamanian government and the Ministry of Education. Our curriculum would have to be reverted back to a Panamanian one . The reason was that the children and parents, if they chose to move on to other schools or perhaps university they would not be given credit for the work done in an non-accredited school. Then all of the grades that were not accredited would have to be repeated in an accredited format.

The thoughts of building a school on North American principals would be a long and arduous project; everything from getting government approvals, to finding fully integrated bilingual teachers. This country is 90 % Catholic and to get licensed, some form of religous education would have to be included. If one tried to operate a school on U.S. fees, it would be empty, no Panamanians could afford it. For that matter, where could you find a well trained european or north american teacher that would be willing to teach for 400 dollars a month in Boquete? There are plenty of retired folks who were teachers and administrators in their respective countries, but who would commit to a year of teaching?

I feel the only hope is that there is a solid foundation of good schools in David. St. Augustine, Cambridge (the only totally bilingual school) and the American School. What is needed is parental involvment to make these schools stronger. Panamanian schools and administrators are not accustomed having parents getting directly involved in the schooling of children, it becomes a bit of a power trip for them. We as expats don't have all the answers but some things we are good at and have developed is a good understanding of the need for a strong education system. If Europe, Canada, Japan are at a very strong point in global education, then Panama, as a whole, is scrapping near the bottom. We can help initiate change through involvement, understanding and genuine concern. Panamanian instructors do realize this, but they need help, they need to be shown and want to be shown, but it has to fit within their cultural identities.
Jorge

[Dennis Pridgen]

Are the well known, international schools in Panama City accredited by the Panamanian Ministry of Education or are they accredited by international agencies? If a school here in Boquete catered to expats whose children would be going back to North America for college would accreditation from the Ministry of Education be important? Are there enough expat children to support such a school? Many colleges and Universities accept homeschooled students and of course there is no accreditation for that.
I plan to send my son to Instituto Guadalupano. I don't know if he will thrive there or not.He certainly would balk at the idea of getting up at 5:00 AM to get a bus to go to David to start at 7:00 AM at one of the good schools there.Jorge, I would be interested in hearing more about the school that you and your wife had. I had thought of trying to get an umbrella school cooperative going with parent mentor/teachers. I think that I will end up supplementing if necessary.

Dennis

[Jorge]

Dennis,
To try to answer your questions in some ordely fashion, I will start with your question regarding the international schools in Panama such as OXford. The have been accredtied by the Panamanina Minstry, but the teachers are top level instructors, eXpats and locals. It is a very expensive school to get into. Last I heard about $5,000 tuition, and 2 or 3 year waiting list and very high monthly fee. But please this isn't gospel things may have changed since I had the information.What Oxford did was reinforced the Panamanian curriculum, they strengthened the teaching of the sciences, and basically included the Panamanian courses in the Humanities (geography, history, civics etc.)

Panama city does have some very excellent schools, ones that are equal to any of the better schools in the world. The only thing that we are faced with in Chiriqui, is logistics and expense of our children going there.

Our school originally was founded on the principals of globalization, in recent years most North American universities (U.S. and Canada) and some in Europe, have taken the approach that it really doesn't matter who teaches the student or where he gets his information. If the student can challenge and pass the necessary entrance exams of the particular university they are in. The only problem that occurs with this methodology is finding a curriculum that will cover all the grades and prepare that student in a home schooling environment. Also human nature what it is, once you begin to live here for any length of time, it becomes difficult for the parent and boring for the child to be totally home schooled. We found that the kids definietly need there social contact with other school children. Sharing accomplishments, sporting activities and even failures and the learning of this wonderful rich culture and language.

To add a little more to this. I know that kids leaving Panama mid way through a Bachelor degree studies and going to the U.S. or Canada.to continue, have to start all over, they are just the not educated enough. Yet many friends of mine (Panamanian) who have earned their professional degrees here in Panama, for example medical, law etc. have gone on to U.S. schools for Post Graduate studies, such as Texas A.M., Harvard, and Tulene in New Orleans(I believe). And sucessfully completed Masters and Doctoral programs.

Our three daughters attended Guadalupano, but we found it falling short. Now, not through the fault of the school but through our own expectations as expats who came from a different set of educational values and much experience. I have heard that they have been getting some help from retired North American educators, in my view this would be a tremondous bonus, and would certainly raise the bar.
So we chose to move here to David and enroll them. Agreed this isn't the answer for all, and certainly a difficult one to deal with, but we found that there was no easy answer.

We also sent two of our daughters back to Canada to finish grades 11 and 12 there, the reason was that the science courses were not quite up to snuff and one of of girls is considering a career in medicine.

Since then I have come on a soloution that may work, but enough for now .
If I can help I would love to, I appreciate tha this is a serious concern for all expats and some Panamian families here.

Cheers
Jorge