Not sure that this is the most appropriate Forum to post this inquiry … but here goes.
I have been asked to make some recommendations about how the parents of a 6 year old native Taiwanese boy could locate appropriate “schooling” opportunities in the USA.
The situation is somewhat unusual because this young boy has had private English teachers for several years, and has the hobby of watching original English language TV programs, videos, English teaching courses, etc. to the point where his English language ability is already quite high for his age.
The family lives in the Taipei area. Does anyone know of some overseas counseling centers or other resources which could get this young boy pointed in the right direction for finding a good school in the USA. ??
[quote=“Hartzell”]Not sure that this is the most appropriate Forum to post this inquiry … but here goes.
I have been asked to make some recommendations about how the parents of a 6 year old native Taiwanese boy could locate appropriate “schooling” opportunities in the USA. The situation is somewhat unusual because this young boy has had private English teachers for several years, and has the hobby of watching original English language TV programs, videos, English teaching courses, etc. to the point where his English language ability is already quite high for his age.
The family lives in the Taipei area. Does anyone know of some overseas counseling centers or other resources which could get this young boy pointed in the right direction for finding a good school in the USA. ??[/quote]
The boy would need to live with a homestay family. They need all the appropriate power of attorney documetns should the boy need any type of emergency treatment.
You won’t really find boarding schools for a boy this age. You should go to a specialist education agent.
Just my opinion, but I think the family needs counseling, and not the overseas education variety. This is really taking the “I had a kid but am going to have others raise it” thing waaaay too far. If your kid has the hobby of learning English, get him some DVDs, or satellite TV, or something. Don’t ship him off at the tender age of 6 to the other side of the world where you (presumably, because you’d be going through them if you did) have no relatives or friends.
How about sending him to the TAS or TES instead? Don’t they have fair enough teaching in english?
(Although we don’t have all the background information on why the parents are sending him off to the US (besides to learn english) for all we know, they parents want to relocate too, but want to put their kids education first when it comes to deciding where to live - I wouldn’t want to see a 6 YO boy sent miles away alone (?) JUST to study more english! Perhaps they should try “settle” with what you can get here in Taipei already, if they are not willing to move with him. Sending him “away” wouldn’t be for the boy’s best interest, if he is going to be without family. IMHO - again, I don’t have all the facts, so please don’t take it toooooooo judgemental )
Unless he has the right passport (and his parents also have the right passport), he cannot attend TAS. Not sure what the requirements are for TES, but if he and his family only have Taiwanese passports, it probably isn’t a viable option either.
There are boarding schools for elementary-aged kids, the Hershey School is one that comes to mind. I am not sure if they have a board option for the younger grades, especially kindergarten. It’s a school for children of all economic backgrounds, especially Pennsylvania’s more impoverished children to get them out of their toxic environments and into a place where a desire to learn is not stigmatized. From everything I know about it, it’s a very good school with great diversity and a healthy, familial environment where the kids live in a house family groups (6-8 kids with a married couple as houseparents).
And in regards to his mom and dad’s wishes…
If the parents are willing to dump their child on strangers overseas at such a young age, then perhaps it is in his best interest to get away from them as soon as possible.
There are lots of outstanding prep schools (boarding schools) in New England – Exeter, Andover, Deerfield, Groton, Northfield Mt. Hermon, etc. – and if we’re still living here 10 years from now (they all start at grade 9) we might consider sending our girl to one of them (though it would be heartbreaking letting her go). But at age 6? That is nuts. I don’t care about cultural relativity or subjectivity, etc. That’s clearly cruel and heartless, though I suspect he/she doesn’t have much of a warm, loving household in Taipei anyway.
Far as I’m concerned, its kid as commodity. Horrible. I’m pretty sure most parents want what’s best for their wee future rocket scientist. But missing out on the best years of their lives? Goddamn! They don’t deserve the child. Just horrible parents. Horrible. Damn, Hartzell, you really need to find to find a NICE friend!
And what exactly do these parents think will happen to the development of the child’s mother tongue? Do they think that the Chinese language is some sort of genetic trait that will continue to develop along with dark brown hair and eyes?
Hartzell, please give them the contact details of any adoption agency that makes arrangements for foreigners to adopt mainland Chinese orphans. English is so important and all.
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