BajaNomad

Good High Schools for US exchange students?

bajabound2005 - 10-15-2008 at 08:02 AM

Me thinks the Mainland would be a better choice, especially for an exchange program.

Bruce R Leech - 10-15-2008 at 10:13 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Me thinks the Mainland would be a better choice, especially for an exchange program.



why would you say that?:?::?::?:

Bruce R Leech - 10-15-2008 at 10:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by soulpatch
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Me thinks the Mainland would be a better choice, especially for an exchange program.



why would you say that?:?::?::?:


Surely you jest......why do you think so many Baja Californians extend so many efforts establishing "residences" in California so their kids can go to school here?:lol:



well if they are in school in the USA then they are not in school here. I know of no such cases in any of my kids schools here in Ensenada?:P

[Edited on 10-15-2008 by Bruce R Leech]

fdt - 10-15-2008 at 10:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by soulpatch

Surely you jest......why do you think so many Baja Californians extend so many efforts establishing "residences" in California so their kids can go to school here?:lol:

Do you know how many? I know of only a few but not many. I for one would not send them to the San Diego schools, IMHMO, at least not until college age.

fdt - 10-15-2008 at 10:50 AM

Were in Baja California?

http://www.cetys.mx/?page=17&pp=17

Heather - 10-15-2008 at 11:34 AM

I know quite a few from TJ that cross the border to come to Chula Vista schools every day. They're the ones that are always late to first period! Heather (CV Teacher)

BajaGringo - 10-15-2008 at 11:38 AM

Most of the folks south of the border who send their kids to school in San Diego will tell you that high school is much easier north of the border than south of the border. Randomly interview any 10 high school graduates from Baja and then interview a similar random selection from NOB and you will find out how bad education is NOB.

The reason most send their kids NOB fall into a couple of categories:

1. Status - sounds chic to say your kids go to school in San Diego
2. Peer Pressure - Kids want to go where their friends go
3. Convenience - Parents work NOB and want their kids close
4. College - It is much easier to register for college in California with high school transcripts from California.

If you think that most send their kids NOB for a higher quality education you need to take a closer look at reality. Talk to parents who had kids in school NOB and now are attending school in Baja. They will all tell you that their kids struggled to keep up in the beginning once they started school here in Mexico- even those who spoke perfect Spanish or attended bilingual schools where they should have been at an advantage.

edit - I am not knocking teachers but the education system itself they are forced to work with. It is incredibly difficult for teachers to just teach anymore as we have turned them into parents, counselors, administrators and more concerned about self esteem than whether or not the kids actually learn anything. God forbid we allow teachers to hold students accountable for anything anymore.

But what do I know???

YMMV...





[Edited on 10-15-2008 by BajaGringo]

bajabound2005 - 10-15-2008 at 11:55 AM

The mainland for the cultural experience...that and the language are what exchange programs are for. Baja Norte isn't much different than SoCal.

BajaGringo - 10-15-2008 at 11:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
The mainland for the cultural experience...that and the language are what exchange programs are for. Baja Norte isn't much different than SoCal.


I agree with that. I spent a year abroad in high school as an exchange student in Argentina. Would give anything to be able to live that experience again...

bajabound2005 - 10-15-2008 at 03:09 PM

We had a foreign exchange student from Coahuila, Mexico living with us for a year in Sacramento. While living in the US was a far different experience for him, being in Sacramento (or California for that matter) did not give him the full benefit of the program. Everywhere we went, people spoke Spanish and he easily fell back to using it. The high school wanted to put him it ESL classes but he scored very well on the English placement exam and we insisted he be in the regular classes. Funnily enough, he almost failed his Spanish class there!

chuckbolton - 10-15-2008 at 06:59 PM

to send a student in an exchange program you dont have a choice of a school for your outbound student-- at least that is my experience-- i wouldnt send a student from calif to border mexico-- first he's not far enough from home and the temptation to visit with family is too great. the most important thing here is tofind a reputable exchange program to put your student into. i think exchanges are great-- have been involved with a program for 20 yrs and hosted many students and the experience has been fantastic-- and i host students in rural america and my students have found that experience to be good. alot of the quality of the exchange depends on the attitude of the student. send him i think all kids should go on a yr long exchange-- far - far from home.