Publication in Russian on the Zen blog
https://dzen.ru/a/Z62P2M4RMAHvTVBN
After reading this, will you want to go to school or not? An ordinary American school with a low rating...
In St. Petersburg, we graduated from the 4th grade and therefore went to the 5th grade here. I'll make a small digression. The education system in the USA is generally different, it is difficult to compare. I'm not going to describe it all, you can always Google it, check it out. But in short, compulsory education is divided into:
- elementary (up to grades 5-6),
- middle (up to 8th grade),
- high school (up to 12th grade).
Moreover, they are located completely locally in different places. After completing each of them, the child has a full-fledged graduation.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A CHILD TO BE ACCEPTED TO SCHOOL HERE?
Spoiler alert, they have to take him to school anyway! This is the law. Any child in the United States has the right to receive free education, this cannot be affected by the lack of documents (even if he does not have a birth certificate), citizenship, immigration status, as well as his race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, knowledge of English… In reality, to enroll in a school, they are asked to provide a Lease agreement (i.e. a lease agreement, which is equivalent to a residence permit), a passport or birth certificate of a child, and vaccinations (therefore, it is advisable to have a vaccination certificate and preferably with a transfer). If there are no necessary vaccinations, then all vaccinations can be obtained free of charge, as well as a vaccination certificate. You don't need anything else, no report cards from your previous schools, no other pieces of paper.… In case of any difficulties with the provision of any documents, everything is solved, everything is helpful. You won't experience any pressure or stress. I anticipate questions from anti-vaccination moms about vaccinations, as far as I know, they will have to be vaccinated. If there are anti-smoking moms from America, please share… I did all the vaccinations for the child on time, and therefore, upon arrival, we had everything we needed. All vaccinations up to the age of 11 coincided with the Russian ones, except for chicken pox (this is a chickenpox vaccine) and then, after asking knowledgeable people in advance what they need to enroll in an American school, I did an analysis for antibodies to chickenpox in a child. The analysis showed the presence of high antibodies, because my child had been ill once and I was not required to be vaccinated, being satisfied with a certificate with high antibodies.
I'll also mention one thing, that everything is done here via the Internet. You can find which school suits you in your area of residence, register there, apply, upload all the documents and get approved from the comfort of your home. All the paperwork here is extremely simple. If you are translating a document from another language, then you don't even need a stamp or just a translator's stamp. If there are any documents, then a copy or photocopy from the phone is enough, they believe everywhere. If there is no proof, then you may be asked to take an oath that it is true! It's a shock to me too! You're ready to defend yourself and prove your position, but you don't need anything. This is also an important point that makes your life here calmer and you yourself also become more tolerant of others.
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES IT TAKE TO GET A CHILD READY FOR SCHOOL? You won't believe me, but almost nothing.… There is no need for a uniform in elementary school, all children walk as they want. You will need to buy a backpack, a simple pencil, and THAT's IT! And the kind of clothes you would buy your child, even if he didn't go to school. Since this is California, neither the child nor you will ever need winter clothes, boots, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, gaiters, pantaloons, "changers" and so on, and the like. And this is again a minus of waste and a minus of a lot of problems, moms will understand me. Changing shifts, dressing and undressing warm clothes, dirty and wet clothes from the weather, a lot of laundry, and so on. There is no such thing at all! And by the way, whether a child has a pencil or not, they will still be given everything they need for lessons at school. Another note, you can always get everything you need for school for free at the Food banks, which I have already told you about. On the eve of school, a day is announced, it is called "back to school" (back to school), something like a fair is organized there, where you choose a limited number of clothes, a backpack, notebooks, pencils and other stationery, even underwear, you can also get free vaccinations and examinations by specialist doctors, treats, funds hygiene… This is for those who do not have the financial means to prepare their child for school.…
The Mild (secondary) school already has a uniform, but each school determines it independently. For example, we only have color restrictions: black, gray, blue top to choose from, and black or blue bottom to choose from. Sports uniforms are either all gray, or you can buy a uniform at school, but this is not necessary. I bought 2 T-shirts and sweatpants, they're all with the school's logo. Hoodies are often given away at school. We were given a similar one in elementary school. The mild school will need more office supplies: a couple of notebooks, a pencil and a pen. So it turns out to be a little more expensive to assemble in the middle. And also, all children at school are given - ATTENTION - LAPTOPS. Don't throw slippers at me. Moreover, you apply for a laptop (this is a chromebook) when you register your child for school. But then we bought the kid his own laptop, we're not beggars.… But it wasn't there, they gave me the laptop anyway.… Each child has their own learning account, through which they complete assignments in the classroom and do their homework.
WHAT ABOUT SEPTEMBER 1ST? School classes begin in August, and each school determines this day independently (it may be September 1). Like the beginning and end of the holidays, and which days off they are, they may differ from school to school, plus or minus, not so much… For example, in the Armenian district, the day off is Commemoration Day of the Armenian Genocide, and other schools may not rest on this day. Also, an administrative day may be announced at school, and no one will study.
In our schools, we start studying for the second year on August 15th, and finish in early June. Naturally, there is no September 1st as a single holiday. No collecting money, no gifts or flowers for the teachers. Of course, there are celebrations and rulers in schools. For example, at the end of the semester, there may be a solemn line-up with the awarding of diplomas and medals to the best students.
MEETINGS. There are no general painful school meetings, there are individual meetings. The teacher provides you with a schedule for your visit, and you choose the most convenient date and time for your visit. The teacher personally tells you about the successes and failures of your child, recommendations on what to do, shows grades, the child's work, crafts, talks about his character, difficulties, talents, and so on. Our teacher at the junior school made a printout in Russian, which is generally a shock and a thank you to me.
Meetings are held in a slightly different way at the mild school. If there are any awards, it is a large general meeting where children are awarded with medals and diplomas. Then, if you have questions for the teacher, you go to a specific teacher, each teacher is waiting for parents in a certain office. If the teacher has questions for you, then he contacts you as soon as this question arises, it is not necessary to wait for this meeting.
FOOD. Meals for all children in schools in California are FREE!
This is a standard breakfast and lunch (i.e. lunch), for those who stay for an extended stay, there is also a snack. At first, I forced him to take a lunch box with him, until the child howled and said he would burst from eating.… In short, parents install the Yum Yummi app on their phone, select their child's school and can see the dishes their children are eating that day, and they can also leave likes and comments about certain dishes. Sample breakfast: a choice of cupcake, yogurt, cereal, fruit, drink of your choice, dairy products. Moreover, for each dish there is a description of the composition and caloric value.
Sample lunch: meat dishes to choose from, salad to choose from, sandwiches to choose from, drink, fresh fruits and vegetables to choose from, snacks, biscuits, various pastries, a second vegetable dish to choose from.
An approximate snack: sandwiches and toasts to choose from, drinks and fruits, snacks to choose from. The food court is located in the open air under a canopy, because it is always warm.
THE SCHOOL BUS. Who hasn't seen this school bus in an American movie? All children are eligible for a free school bus. At the beginning of the school year, you apply for it if it is necessary. The bus has certain stops, they are planned according to the area of residence of the students. You just need to get to this place on time in the morning and after school you will be dropped off there. Buses are all designed to transport people with disabilities, and this makes life easier for disabled children and their parents. The driver will load such a child himself and unload it.
Grades for studies. Oh, it's completely different. Grades are either sent by mail or can be given out at a meeting with the teacher. Grades are not announced here in front of the entire class, but only personally to parents and the child. For each subject, 3 grades are given, Academic Marks are evaluated – these are knowledge, Work Habits and Cooperation - responsibility, honesty, determination, attendance, how he interacts with other students, teachers, and so on are evaluated. Grades are given in the form of letters: E – excellent, S – satisfactory, U – unsatisfactory. Academic grades are designated differently, if you are interested, I can describe them in more detail, although this can probably be found on the Internet.
Schools occupy huge territories here, almost for a block. They have a huge courtyard, a dining room, a giant stadium, and many different buildings... The school grounds are always closed by serious fences, it is difficult for outsiders to enter there...
ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHILDREN. It's one of the most beautiful things here. No one ever YELLS at them. Teachers are more likely to have friendly relations with children, they are on the high five with teachers. Children do not have fear of the teacher or a servile attitude. I will tell you about our elementary school, this experience was also shocking for me in a good way, now you will also understand why, especially against the background of a Russian school. Every morning, the headmaster personally greets all the children and gives them high fives. The school has 3 entrances: for those who find it convenient to enter from the front, for those who find it convenient to drive up from behind and for kids. At each entrance, the greeters are the deputy directors and the director himself. By 8 o'clock, the children are lined up on a ruler that starts at exactly 8:00 and ends at exactly 8:05, never once has the ruler been delayed for a minute. I want to point out that Americans know how to organize anything, whether it's the work of a food bank, the work of a school, or any queue, always clearly and quickly. I don't understand how they do it. Against this background, I recall the long and painful lines in a Russian school, where one came, the other left, and they were going for 100 years and still nothing… So, on the line, any child who wants to, sings the anthem and waves the flag, the director says a kind farewell, and everyone goes to their class. When picking up a child, the principal personally meets the parents in the driveway (the children are picked up by cars). You're sitting in the car, you have a special large pass on the windshield with the child's name, class and school symbol, the principal greets you, calls the child on the radio, the child gets out, and you drive away… I was shocked by this attitude. In a Russian school, the headmaster is at the same time some kind of thread, at least a deputy of United Russia, and you can't reach him like a deity, and the headmaster is here…
Once again, about the Americans' ability to organize. I'll briefly tell you about the graduation. The children come out to the music, but not in formation, but each enters individually to applause. Graduation time is allocated for each class. There are many different awards, and therefore the children come out at different times in different groups, it all goes smoothly, clearly and easily. At the same time, the teachers do not hiss at the students, they do not push them. I don't understand how this happens. One boy was announced, but apparently he was afraid to go out in public, he balked. No one raised an eyebrow, no one forced or emphasized attention. Another teacher quickly took the award and solemnly handed it to the boy, but on the sidelines, and congratulated him, that's it, it's a minute... Everyone is happy. The most interesting moment was when the children congratulated each other with special secret greetings-handshakes, such as high five, low five, double high five in various combinations that they themselves came up with... I don't know what it's called, maybe someone can tell me...
Another amazing phenomenon is here. All children LOVE SCHOOL. In St. Petersburg, the day before the end of the holidays or when the weekend ended, my mother sobbed: - I don't want to go to school! There wasn't a day here when she didn't want to go to school. She's comfortable there! And this happens to all the Russian-speaking children I know here!
In order to avoid corruption, bullying and bias, the class composition and the homeroom teacher change every year. Children learn to get to know each other and make new friendships, they don't have time to form groups that newcomers can't get into, and which can then bully "outcasts", those who for some reason could not enter this group. Also, this method prevents teachers from making themselves favorites and unloved, who then cannot get out of the teacher's stereotypical attitude towards him. Every year you have a new chance to make friends and reverse the past negative situation.
THE CHILD. punishment. After all, we have seen in American films that when a child is punished for bad behavior, he sits with the same violators in a special class. Who remembers the 1998 film The Faculty? I love this movie. So, that's true, but this already applies to children from middle school (from 6th grade). If in a Russian school a child is placed in front of the entire class or kicked out of the classroom, then in an American school, the violator is sent to a special classroom where the same violators sit with the teacher and can engage in certain types of activities, such as reading, drawing, and others, this is Detention (arrest, detention).
WHAT ABOUT ENGLISH? Ignorance of the English language does not prevent children from starting to study in an American school, the whole system is built on the easy and quick integration of such children, especially since there are many of them every year. The child immediately begins to speak English, it is included in all processes. In my first year, I had 3 friends who vied to be friends with her, and one even started learning Russian. I can't tell you how it happens, I don't understand it myself, but for almost 2 years, my mother speaks English as her native language and understands everything. The situation is similar with other Russian-speaking children whom I know here. They regularly take tests in English and are transferred to a more advanced class or assigned additional classes based on the result.
There is also a very interesting educational system in the form of a constructor, I don't know what to call it correctly. You can choose what you need and put more emphasis on subjects that are more interesting and necessary in your opinion. You can study in the 6th grade, but attend many more advanced classes, where you have success and a higher score. And if there are no ambitions, then sit constantly in the middle class. The school constantly encourages you to participate in some projects or to get higher grades with the help of prizes, school money with which you can buy something. Now, for example, there is such a competition: you need to come up with your own superhero, give him a name, describe him, come up with superpowers, come up with a world for him, you can draw him, you can create him on a computer. In short, the prize is $50 for the first place and less for the next 2. Mine sits and creates all day, wants to get a prize.
The school constantly organizes online video conferences for parents on how to deal with various difficulties with children, on safety, and so on.
The school notifies you about everything via SMS and email. At first we were freaking out, as it's 100 messages a day. Some of them come in Russian, as we have listed him as our Nate Langwich. And now we are used to these messages, it is very convenient. If it's a holiday, then you receive a text message the day before, such as "don't forget, tomorrow is the day off, don't come to school" or "tomorrow is the holidays, don't forget"
They take skipping school very seriously. If your child did not come to school or was late, a message immediately comes from all the irons: "your child did not come to school, bring a note with the next visit." By the way, a parent's call or a note about a pass is accepted even after the fact and is considered excusable if there is a valid reason, such as feeling unwell, going to the doctor, and the like. This is very convenient if the child is an adult, you don't take him to school yourself, he won't be able to skip just like that, you'll know about it right away.
Also on the street, at nearby major road crossings, at the time when you need to go to school or return home, volunteers with a stop sign and in special bright vests are on duty. They transfer all the children who go without their parents across the street.
And after all this, how can I not love this country? She has already done a lot for me and my family in advance, even though I am a "newly arrived immigrant." And I'm not being blamed for anything here, not even the fact that I speak Russian, understand English very poorly, am not a citizen, and have not made any major financial investments. It's just that the country accepts me as a respected and valuable person. Then it makes me sick when I listen and read the streams of hatred towards America.
Terrible things are happening in Russia, a cult of hatred is being nurtured there, what will happen to the generation who today study doctored history and conversations about important things in schools?
Food banks and the real attitude towards the common man in the USA
A realistic story about medical care in the United States
About how Americans treat Russia and Russians
Life in America
God has given man freedom of choice. And no other person has the right to take it away from you. I remain free and wish you all the same, to be free!
Life in America by Anna Kim
https://vk.com/anna_kimchik
I write and shoot. Join me
Author's video content CMCproduction & SmartREC video studios
https://www.youtube.com/c/ViolettaWennman
Highly Social on Zen
https://dzen.ru/shipshard
I invite you to the uncensored telegram channel.
https://t.me/shipshard
