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abple
Lurker
Joined: Apr 12, 2004
Posts: 20
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
June 13, 2007 - 08:48 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Which school will you choose ? |
Provided that my husband's new company will provide education package for our three children not more than 200,000 RMB/year. Now our kids study is the private local school in grade 3, 2 and kindergarten 1. I have three choices in my mind.
1. Shanghai United International School. The tuition fee is around 80,000 RMB/year/child for primary school. So we will have another 20,000 left of the kindergarten one.
2. Shanghai High School, International Division. All the tuition is almost the same as Shanghai United International School.
3. Shanghai Singapore International School. The tuition fee for primary will be around RMB 100,000/year/child. The budget will be fitted for the older two. So we have to pay for the kindertgarten for ourselves.
Our mother tongue is neither English nor Chinese. However, Chinese language for my children is perfect since they are in local school. We are here for almost 8 years and will stay here may be till our children finished high school here.
Appreciate all of your comments |
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mommy&kids
Seeker
Joined: June 07, 2007
Posts: 71
Status: Offline
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June 14, 2007 - 01:14 AM |
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Does Shanghai United have a kindergarten program?
You may want to consider having all your kids in the same school/campus if it offers both primary and kindergarten program. |
_________________
Grace |
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abple
Lurker
Joined: Apr 12, 2004
Posts: 20
Status: Offline
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June 14, 2007 - 01:28 PM |
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Shanghai United doesn't hv kidergarten in the same compound but I know that they have kindergarten under the same owner. I don't mind for the yongest one to learn at different school since all of them will have school bus. |
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elainelge
Lurker
Joined: June 11, 2008
Posts: 20
Status: Offline
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Aug 03, 2008 - 04:14 PM |
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Hi - So in the end WHICH school did you choose? SUIS or SHS-ID or SSIS? Why? Please help me narrow down? I am moving end August 2008 and would love to hear feedback from a REAL parent with kids that are actually in one of these schools. Much appreciated. |
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rucksack
Barker
Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 190
Location: the wrong side of the tracks
Status: Offline
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Aug 05, 2008 - 06:54 AM |
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jojosunshine
Lurker
Joined: Nov 11, 2006
Posts: 33
Status: Offline
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Aug 14, 2008 - 12:27 PM |
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I took my child out of SUIS- the program was not working for us, not enough stress on speaking/learning Mandarin! And the administration seems very disorganized! I'm sure they are working it out, but wanted to let you know. We have been at a local school for a while now.
I'm looking into the local schools with international divisions. I want more immersion language for my child than the International and Bi-lingual schools seems to be providing, and a bit more of an open learning environment than the local school was providing. I'll let you know how it goes, if you're interested!
Everyone's experience is different... every child learns differently. It's really very trial and error. |
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CommercialG
Talker
Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 92
Status: Offline
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Aug 16, 2008 - 06:22 PM |
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Sounds like the Chinese Track of SMIC in Zhangjiang will suit your children if you want more emphasis on the language AND an open learning enviroment. The fee is about RMB36,000/ year I think but you can check out their website.
http://www.smic-school.cn/ |
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CommercialG
Talker
Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 92
Status: Offline
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Aug 16, 2008 - 06:32 PM |
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Sorry less than that:
Chinese Track
Fee Description Per Semester
Elementary School
Grades 1 – 5
Middle School
Grades 6 – 9
High School
Grades 10-12
Tuition
12,000元(RMB) 14,000元(RMB) 16,000元(RMB)
Materials Fee 600元(RMB) 800元(RMB) 800元(RMB)
Meals 855元(RMB)* 855元(RMB) 855元(RMB)
PTA Fee 50元(RMB) 50元(RMB) 50元(RMB)
Total
13,505 15,705 17,705 |
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CommercialG
Talker
Joined: June 29, 2008
Posts: 92
Status: Offline
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Aug 16, 2008 - 06:33 PM |
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SJD
Newbie
Joined: Aug 21, 2008
Posts: 1
Status: Offline
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Aug 21, 2008 - 04:15 PM |
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Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to share with other mums & dads about this great new kindergarten I found in Jingan, central Shanghai! It covers kids from 6 weeks to 6 year olds - amazing! It's genuine bi-lingual, English & Chinese combining the British & Chinese education systems. It's called upto u kindergarten and has great facilities and a great atmosphere! The ex-pat staff are Brits and all staff (English & Chinese) are appropriately qualified.
Anyway, just wanted to let other folk know - you can do parenting classes as well as your kids doing full-time kindergarten or part-time kindergarten - they are really flexible. They also have great learn-to-swim facilities for babies & toddlers!
If you're interested, their location is 10 mins from Plaza 66 - 593, Jiang Ning Road, Jingan. tel: 62187379
and their web site is: www.upto-u.com.cn |
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Waryss
Squeeker
Joined: Feb 10, 2007
Posts: 15
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 22, 2008 - 03:00 PM |
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Upto u kindergarten is new in Shanghai ?
I was very disapointed : the webside is under construction and the assistance didn`t give me more information...
So maybe the newbie SJD works for them ...  |
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rucksack
Barker
Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 190
Location: the wrong side of the tracks
Status: Offline
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Aug 23, 2008 - 07:24 AM |
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It's always worth considering putting your child in a local kindergarten. There are hundreds. Which means there is usually one close to your house, walking distance. It seems a shame not to take advantage of your child learning Chinese Language and culture, an opportunity they may never have again. I'm speaking from experience of course. I've had a great experience and have recommended some friends to my son's kindergarten. It's been a very good experience, not without it's frustrations (language barrier), but my son is fluent and can easily play with local children since he knows all about what they're in to. My youngest son will be starting in September. The teachers came over to visit with us this past week. They do this for new students going full day. In the local kindergartens they nap at the school. Something to think about. |
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freedelia
Rocker
Joined: Nov 27, 2006
Posts: 663
Status: Offline
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Aug 23, 2008 - 08:34 AM |
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Yeah, always worth considering having your children scarred for life by teachers who don't know anything about early childhood education or psychology... I would NEVER put my kids in a local school, if i could not afford a good international one, i would home school them. And both of my kids (4 year old son who goes to American kindergarten and 2 year old daughter who only does Mommy and Me class with me) are fluent in Chinese and can very easily communicate with both chinese kids and our ayi, neighbors, security guards, etc. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 23, 2008 - 09:13 AM |
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Woah! Freedelia, you write with the assumption that the local kindergartens employ teachers who know nothing about ECE! Serious? |
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Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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freedelia
Rocker
Joined: Nov 27, 2006
Posts: 663
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Aug 23, 2008 - 09:55 AM |
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No, I am just writing with the assumption that the Chinese education system does not care about the children's psychology, their sensitivities, their specific personalities. I have witnessed it myself in many schools, saw it in Chinese teachers in the international schools (in spite of them being aware the western education is different and different things are expected from them) and I have discussed it with many Chinese parents and teachers.It's no secret that children are bullied in order to encourage them to be the best that can, that the weak ones are considered a burden, etc etc |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 23, 2008 - 09:59 AM |
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You use the word "bullied", I would use the word "pressured". But you are right, the assumptions behind education is different. The current Eastern educational philosophy is that of academic excellence, especially since the paper qualification is seen as a measure of a person's worth. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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rucksack
Barker
Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 190
Location: the wrong side of the tracks
Status: Offline
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Aug 24, 2008 - 07:51 AM |
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Please do not ASSUME. I've never had any of that negative stuff happen to my kids. The absolute opposite actually. The teachers are trained, are young, play an instrument, have a curriculum they follow, are dedicated, resposible, take their job very seriously and communicate with the parents in monthly reports, dailly when we pick our kids up and have montlhy parent teacher get togethers. In fact, my youngest son's teacher visited our home and all the homes of the new students to talk about our child's routines, special needs, etc. And my experience with international schools (working in them by the way) is that they are not perfect and don't fool yourself that all those "qualified" teachers are great, they are human and can be lazy, sloppy and culturally insensitive, and display other forms of inappropriate behaviour. The new teacher vetting process is difficult for the int'l schools. They meet them at recruiting fairs and get about 20 min. to decide. |
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StMichael
Ranter
Joined: Feb 19, 2005
Posts: 586
Location: Qibao, Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Aug 24, 2008 - 10:30 AM |
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Actually, it's 30 mins, not 20 mins.  Heh...
I suppose it's also another reason why I personally prefer local hires and hiring teachers who have been substituting with us for some time. It at least gives me a chance to observe them longer. |
_________________
Michael Chan www.senseimichael.com |
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rucksack
Barker
Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 190
Location: the wrong side of the tracks
Status: Offline
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Aug 25, 2008 - 08:22 AM |
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It know it's tough for the headmasters, they can make very poor decisions only because they don't have the time and Shanghai is a long way away. My husband was hired on a telephone interview. That was a leap of faith on the headmasters part. They were desperate which was good for us but you can imagine the inherent problems.
Shanghai is a very progressive city, relatively speaking and the local schools here can be experimental, focus on science or art or dance etc. They can be "key" schools and seriously academically challenging. They can be quite traditional, which can be very negative for westerners. Things have changed here so much in my ten years here, we are very lucky to have all these choices now. Beside, int'l schools are extremely expensive and, for example, at my husband's school, some companies have pulled the education part of the package and those students have returned to their home country. |
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freedelia
Rocker
Joined: Nov 27, 2006
Posts: 663
Status: Offline
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Aug 25, 2008 - 09:03 AM |
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I agree that there are some teachers who should not be anywhere near kids, but, in the case of the international schools, that happens very seldom. All the teachers are qualified and come with good references and most schools usually use the help of a recruiter who will meet the teachers more than once before they recommend them for an interview with the school.
Also, i have to say I would rather my 4 year old had a lazy or sloppy teacher than a teacher who will tell him he is a bad boy (very very common to hear Chinese people say that) if he does something bad, to threaten him that I will not come to pick him up is he is not good and does not listen, to embarrass him in front of everyone if he is not able to do one thing as well as other kids in class, etc, etc. I don't thin academics are that important at age 4 or 5, but emotional comfort is, it helps the child build self confidence and it encourages him/her to explore new things/areas, go outside of his/her comfort zone without the fear of being reprimanded if he/she fails.
I agree, international schools are very expensive, there are a couple of good ones who are more reasonably priced, and some of the expensive one will offer scholarships to kids whose parents cannot afford to pay. Maybe when he is older, I would put my son in a more local school, but definitely not in preschool or kindergarten, when they are so sensitive... |
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rucksack
Barker
Joined: Jan 10, 2005
Posts: 190
Location: the wrong side of the tracks
Status: Offline
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Aug 25, 2008 - 09:24 AM |
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[quote="freedelia"]Also, i have to say I would rather my 4 year old had a lazy or sloppy teacher than a teacher who will tell him he is a bad boy (very very common to hear Chinese people say that) if he does something bad, to threaten him that I will not come to pick him up is he is not good and does not listen, to embarrass him in front of everyone if he is not able to do one thing as well as other kids in class, etc, etc. I don't thin academics are that important at age 4 or 5, but emotional comfort is, it helps the child build self confidence and it encourages him/her to explore new things/areas, go outside of his/her comfort zone without the fear of being reprimanded if he/she fails.
quote]
I am so sorry to say that you are still making assumptions. This is an area I have looked into for a few years in this city and obviously you have not. Not to mention my actual experience of teaching in the local system and the international system. In general, in all schools, there are good teachers and bad teachers. I cannot support that the Chinese system is, in general, worse than the western system.
Also the types of schools that I mentioned are not only for kindergarten but also for elementary and up. The point is that there is quite a variety available. |
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freedelia
Rocker
Joined: Nov 27, 2006
Posts: 663
Status: Offline
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Aug 25, 2008 - 09:36 AM |
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I am not making assumptions. I am also not saying that all Chinese teachers are bad. Only that culturally, they are different and they are not aware of differences like "you are a bad boy for doing this" versus "this was a bad thing to do, please do not do it again". Also, positive reinforcement is not encouraged in the Chinese education system, it is not taught to the future teachers when they are in school and it is not considered the best approach to creating successful people. |
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winpetung
Seeker
Joined: Mar 31, 2003
Posts: 46
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
Oct 04, 2008 - 08:10 PM |
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You might want to check out the Shanghai Fudan-Vanke Experimental Private School. Their website is www.vks.cn |
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