Job Discussion Forums

[almuze]

Had anyone out there sent thier own yabanci, english speaking children to turkish schools? how did that work out?

I think turkish schools are fine, they have a better math programme than the states, the kids are generally well adjusted... so far nothing like columbine has happened here (or any where else in the world, for that matter, from what I know...)

but there's a couple issues I have, like the use of the ceza corner - having out of line children stand in the corner. This is something my grandmother talks about! I'm just not sure how I feel about stuff like that, and those big wooden sticks the teachers wack thier desks with...

then, most "good" schools have pretty intensive english programs, like, say, at least 2 hours a day. My kids don't need 2 hours a day, so this is a lot of class time.... what do do with it? and of course, the price of english books is outrageous, 20 million for a glorified colouring book...

has anyone already been through this? any advice/thoughts/etc would be helpful!
thanks

[gelin]

I have been through it and seen friends go through it. If your child doesn't speak Turkish, then please don't send him/her. It's not worth the trouble you're going to have.

[queenfrog]

I personally don't have any children but there is one little boy that goes to my school and his mother is a native English speaker. His father is Turkish. Naturally you would think that the boy would know Turkish but he didn't before going to school. He has had no problems ajusting but his mother had problems. If you don't know Turkish it will bother you. You won't know what is going on. but I don't think your child will have any problems especially if he/she begins schooling here.


Besides--all kids pass here. It is mandatory. he/she can't fail. And the child learns a second language.

Also, I haven't seen any such punishments in my school.

[gelin]

Just because it appears the child is adjusting doesn't mean that's how it is. Mine looked fine at school, but at home he took out all his frustration on the whole family. He's out of high school now, but I still think he resents us for putting him in that Turkish school way back when.

[almuze]

Just to be clear, I know turkish, and my kids know turkish. And, believe it or not, I really like turkey, the people, the life, etc etc etc

However, I have alot of questions about turkish educational methods. I don't think they are so great for Kids. They use shame and blame and the whole "teachers pet" vibe to get what they want. In the states, kids who acted like this would be called "suck ups", among other things, but here it is encouraged. Do I want my children encouraged to be "suck ups" just so the teacher likes them?

Also, turkish people generally do things more or less the same (I know I know, massive sterotype!) my kids drink cold water at school, among other things, is this something they should stop doing just to get along?

And, queen frog, the teachers at your school don't make yaramaz students stand in the corner? or somehow publicly humilate them? I am very suprised, and truthfully, don't believe it. what kind of classroom discipline do the turkish teachers use at your school? I assume your at K-12?

[queenfrog]

Ok I will say this as clearly as possible, there is no standing in the corner or on one leg at my school. yes it is k-12. I have heard all those stories too. I have seen teachers, not at my current school, pinch student faces. And not in a nice way.

The most difficult students we have have a mental problem or are ADHD. And we can't really help them by punishing them for something they can't control. If we have student that really causes problems we get them to go to the school guidance counselor. We also talk to the parents. Calling them every week if necessary. And we also talk with the principal to help our own moral when it seems like the family doesn't care.

The most I have seen teachers do is yell. Even that is never at one student but at a group of them.

But personally I don't use this. I only reward good behaviour. I have a positive motivation board in my classroom. Yes I have my own room so I can decorate it and such to encourage children.

And I would like to make something clear, not all schools are good, but family life is very important. And yes the teachers do baby the students but I don't and my students and their parents like me for NOT babying their children and talking openly to them. Also, if I did have a child I might change their school every year for the 1st 5 years because I don't agree with the system of one teacher for 5 years.

[gelin]

My oldest knew Turkish, too. He had gone to first and second grade in the States and then we moved to Turkey. We put him in the school I taught at, so we thought that it would be better -- private and lots of English. He got stuck with a heavy disciplinarian -- not just one year, but until he got out of 5th grade. Hell on earth those years.

The youngest started school in Turkey in preschool and went on through eighth grade -- all in the two private (and good) schools I taught at. Luckily he got a wonderful teacher for his 1-5 years. He's now in high school -- grade 9 -- in the States and has adjusted nicely.

Two different stories from the same family.

[almuze]

The other day I asked my daughter what kind of things she was doing at anaokulu and how it was going and she said
"well, the teacher says we should sit in our chairs, and then she gives us a picture to colour in, and we have to colour it in as fast as we can, and if we stand up before we are done, then we all point at that kid and say 'bebek! bebek!"

I think this is wierd.

And, I agree, I think the class teacher is the most important thing. I think I will try to go in observe or something before I send my kids anywhere. maybe gelin's youngest adjusted better because he started here? I might be exagerating, but I can't get over how different education/cultural expectations are for kids. It's like a differnt planet. I think this difference has been the hardest part of this move for me.

queen frog, what do you think is making the american mother of your student so uncomfortable?

[gelin]

Well I think the non-Turkish parents are really not comfortable with most of the schools and with good reason most of the time. Our foreign parents got on swimmingly with the foreign teachers, but not with the Turkish ones, for the most part. The Turkish teachers felt threatened when a foreign teacher would ask a lot of questions.

I'd like to hear about your reactions, Almuze, when you want to go and observe. The Ministry of Education doesn't really allow that unless you're a teacher yourself. Stupid, huh? Some schools will use that excuse if they don't want you in there. Have you talked to any of the other parents? That's where you should start.

[queenfrog]

I agree with you that I think it is easier for the child to start school here instead of coming later on.
The children here start reading and writing in the 1st grade and if an outsider comes at that time he/she can fit right in.

The only reason the mother had problems over here at my school was because she knows zero (and I don't exagerate this) Turkish. She has been here a while but never wanted to learn. Also her husband wasn't helping her with school things, such as notes sent home. So she never knew what was going on or when the kids were getting vacinations and what for. This was important because she had already gotten them done before her child started school. If she could understand a simple note home it would have helped her.

[almuze]

I think even if I go in an observe I still won't really know whats going on. Like, at my daughter's anaokulu, I have talked to the advisors, teachers, etc, everything seemed so nice and cheery... and it still does, I guess... I just wouldn't have expected the teachers I talked to to use that whole "baby baby!" thing to make kids behave. But, even in the states there are bad teachers that can scar a kid for life.... but really, as a system, turkish schools do make me nervous.

And, yes, I think turkish teachers generally do feel threatened when a foriegn teacher asks a lot of questions. Especially when said turkish teacher is supozed to be an english teacher and can't really follow what I'm saying. humph.

I will have to find other foriegn mommies and compare notes.