Armenian schools or not? Haygagan tebrots gam 'odar'

[Siggie]

OK, fine, some people can't afford it. Understandable. But what about those who take their kids out of Armenian pvt school and put them in an odar pvt school? How do you justify THAT? Besides, like I said, I am not blaming you for not having known Armenian as a kid. You can still learn the language if you want to.

I never said I don't know Armenian. I said my Armenian has gotten rusty over the years.

[Darorinag]

Yes but those of THIS generation who aren't speaking Armenian already and couldn't give a damn that they don't know the language (ahem!) and aren't taking steps to learn it aren't going to be any kind of example to their kids other than a bad one-- what do you suggest then?? It's not like we're talking about you or me or anyone else on this forum because obviously we're all interested in the whole being Armenian thing, heck even Loseyourname is even though he's not Armenian...

What ELSE can you do but give up on them? I can't see any other way. If people choose to be blind, there's nothing you can do about it. There is so much one can do, after that, you leave it up to the individual's awareness. Rather unfortunate to have such people who are so ashamed of thier own ethnicity to the point of refusing to even learn their language... but heck, what can you do... concentrating on those who are at the risk of being carried away by the blind people is the thing to do, IMO...

[Darorinag]

I never said I don't know Armenian. I said my Armenian has gotten rusty over the years.

Why don't you speak it, then?

[Darorinag]

Hey bejug, I love your signature. Isn't that by Frank Sinatra?

Anyway, I've been to two Armenian schools. And I must say, they weren't popular like St. Joseph or Evangelical School or Jesus & Mary school (Lebanon) - those were French/English-based schools, and our kids did much much better on baccalaureate exams than they... AND to add, they learned Armenian language, literature, mythology, history, etc.

[Inna]

Regarding Advanced Placement:

I cannot imagine that it would be possible for there to be Advanced Placement programs in ethnic schools because of the small population and lack of selectivity.

I went to a very ethnicly diverse school throughout elementary, middle, and high school. In my high school the percentage between black and white students was 50/50, and since our high school was the only high school in the city that offered ESL classes we had Asians, Mexicans, pakistanis, and a lot of other students from different ethnicities. Even with all the diversity our school was one of the best athletic/academic schools in the county. Not only did they offer Advanced Placement courses but they also had an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. So going to a school that has some many different ethnicities offered a lot more advantages then disadvantages...I'd rather go to a school of people from various races, ethnicites, and religions then go to an American private school where all the students are of one race (white) or one religion (Christian). And maybe I was just lucky..I dont know anything about LA, and the school system there, but my school was fairly small, only about 1200 students..maybe being a smaller school is the advantage.

[spiral]

Are you kidding me about the Armenian schools? Oh jeez.
Second, I'd rather pay more to send my kids to a non-Armenian private school just like some people do because for one thing Armenian schools have sub-par education standards. I don't know how things are in Canada and elsewhere but the Armenian high schools I know about in LA-- Pilibos, Demirjian, Ferrahian (<-- my school) have terrible terrible curricula and even worse teachers and the level of education you get if you don't apply yourself outside of the classroom on your own time (without having been given an assignment to do so) is below average at best. Granted, schools like Ferrahian are doing their best to hire new teachers and make the courses above-average, etc, but it's still not the same level of education you're going to get at a public school or non-Armenian private school.

Also, I know plenty of people who never stepped foot in an Armenian school and speak Armenian more fluently than some people who have been to Armenian schools their whole lives. Granted their writing probably leaves a lot to be desired, but hey, I went to Armenian schools my whole life and I still get my ra and re and kim and ke's mixed up.

I agree.

I work with kids who go to public schools, as well as with kids who go to private schools, and I can see a huge difference between teaching methods of public American schools, and private Armenian schools.

[Hogg]

I don't think I'd think twice about sending my kids to a public school. Armenian schools are trash. Okay, maybe public schools are too but I ain't paying for trash. If I still live around here, I'll send 'em to Clark.

[patlajan]

Public school during the week, sunday school on weekends.

[Hogg]

Public school during the week, Sunday school on Tuesday. Oooooooooobviously on weekends!

[Siggie]

Why don't you speak it, then?

It would take forever and a year