Can you explain what a DoD school is, for those of us that don't know? Thanks!
Experience with DoD Schools
Has anyone had any experience with DoD schools? Was it good? Bad?
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I went to a DoD (Dept. of Defense) school from mid 2nd-mid 5th grade while we were stationed in Puerto Rico. The schools were excellent, so much that when we transferred to Virginia my brother and I were far ahead of the students on our grade levels.
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They are schools for children of military.
Originally Posted by lauren Can you explain what a DoD school is, for those of us that don't know? Thanks! |
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Do you have the option of putting your children into local schools? What is your residency status? The reason I ask is that we used to live in Germany and found that German schools are... umm... well... superior over anything the US can offer. Dd never attended school there because we moved back before she went to Kindy, but we were in the process of exploring. Please no flames, just calling 'em like I see 'em. Friends of ours in Germany with older children (who attended a couple of years of US school when he was transferred here) were telling us that, for example, a typical 4th grade curriculum in the US is introduced in 2nd grade in Germany.
Originally Posted by Dwmama Has anyone had any experience with DoD schools? Was it good? Bad? |
I attended DoD schools in Germany, age 7 thru 13 I think. We did take a field trip to spend a day in a german classroom, and they did seem far ahead of us. In El Paso, there was a school on base but I don't think it was DoD
I went to DoD schools when overseas, but not in the states. My experience was excellent. LOTS of focus on local culture and a great overall educational foundation. But that was a little over 20 years ago now! I think some bases had better reputations than others, but I have nothing to base that on.
DH is a teacher in a DoD school in Japan. He says the curriculum standards are better than any school he has taught in previously in the states. He also has said that his principal has hired really great teachers--the best he has ever worked with. Now, that being said, we have still decided to send our child to Japanese private school--we just really like their educational system better than the stateside model (it's very Montissori-like and they don't believe in grading children until they are middle/high school). If you need any more info regarding DoD school please feel free to pm me, I'm sure DH would be happy to answer your questions.
i was told that unless it was a daycare or preschool/kindergarten the child had to speak german in order to go to a german school.
im in germany now, and while i dont have kids, i work at the daycare, and the kids are out of school so much- always early dismissal days, and no school days- out for parent confrences, and just random stuff, its crazy. the kindergarteners i work with seem to be learning pretty well i guess, but i dont like the fact that theyre always out of school... oh and theyre only in school from 8-2, which seems short to me
im in germany now, and while i dont have kids, i work at the daycare, and the kids are out of school so much- always early dismissal days, and no school days- out for parent confrences, and just random stuff, its crazy. the kindergarteners i work with seem to be learning pretty well i guess, but i dont like the fact that theyre always out of school... oh and theyre only in school from 8-2, which seems short to me
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Young children pick up languages much faster than we do. Just living in Germany, a preschooler is going to know the language in just a few months. My own dd knew more German than I did within a couple of months of us living there. I had 3 years in high school 20 years ago.
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They don't water down the curriculum like we do in the US. They are much more aggressive with their expectations of learning. Fractions come in 2nd grade, for example (I don't know this to be true, just using it as an example)... and if you don't know them, you are expected to spend the extra time to get it. Period. My husband calls it the "dumbing down" of our children that we do in American schools. He's from Turkey and his niece, who will be graduating in a couple of years from what we call "high school" is quadrilingual and is getting subjects like calculus and organic chemistry already. Her math alone is beyond most college graduates. School in Europe is like that. They are just more aggressive about the importance of learning and it starts from the beginning. You don't need to be in "school" that much to learn. Ask any homeschooling family. Most of American school is fluff. I don't homeschool, btw.
Originally Posted by ashleyhaugh i was told that unless it was a daycare or preschool/kindergarten the child had to speak german in order to go to a german school. |
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Originally Posted by ashleyhaugh im in germany now, and while i dont have kids, i work at the daycare, and the kids are out of school so much- always early dismissal days, and no school days- out for parent confrences, and just random stuff, its crazy. the kindergarteners i work with seem to be learning pretty well i guess, but i dont like the fact that theyre always out of school... oh and theyre only in school from 8-2, which seems short to me |
I have no experience with DoD schools, just German and regular US public school.
German elementary schools tend to be great if you're lucky to get a good (as in not burned-out teacher). It's actually quite amazing what they accomplish in such a short time I think. Yet, I would not recommend sending a kid who does not have some German language skills. Class sizes tend to be big (25-30) and the teachers don't have time to spend time with individual students. It's the parent's job to keep up with homework and identify and remedy problem areas.
It's true that multiplication/division is introduced in 2nd grade by the way. They've also introduced English classes since first grade in all Baden_Wuerrtemberg elementary schools as far as I know.
German elementary schools tend to be great if you're lucky to get a good (as in not burned-out teacher). It's actually quite amazing what they accomplish in such a short time I think. Yet, I would not recommend sending a kid who does not have some German language skills. Class sizes tend to be big (25-30) and the teachers don't have time to spend time with individual students. It's the parent's job to keep up with homework and identify and remedy problem areas.
It's true that multiplication/division is introduced in 2nd grade by the way. They've also introduced English classes since first grade in all Baden_Wuerrtemberg elementary schools as far as I know.
I attended a DOD school in Oslo for grades 2-5. I thought the school was one of the better ones I attended. About a quarter of the students in my class were children of civilians, and they paid tuition to attend.
My younger brother had difficulties with the school. He had an ADD diagnosis very early on.
Our school only went through grade 8, I think, so older students either went to a DOD boarding school in England or they went to Norwegian schools.
Anyway, I wasn't happy with my education in general, but I think the DOD school was pretty good. When we got back to the US and I took standardized tests for grade 6, I tested at the high school graduate level in all areas.
I picked up Norwegian from the neighborhood kids, and I took Norwegian classes in school. If I'd had to go to a Norwegian school, I don't think language would have been a huge barrier at that age. I think DOD schools helped us keep some continuity in our education, for better or for worse.
My younger brother had difficulties with the school. He had an ADD diagnosis very early on.
Our school only went through grade 8, I think, so older students either went to a DOD boarding school in England or they went to Norwegian schools.
Anyway, I wasn't happy with my education in general, but I think the DOD school was pretty good. When we got back to the US and I took standardized tests for grade 6, I tested at the high school graduate level in all areas.
I picked up Norwegian from the neighborhood kids, and I took Norwegian classes in school. If I'd had to go to a Norwegian school, I don't think language would have been a huge barrier at that age. I think DOD schools helped us keep some continuity in our education, for better or for worse.
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