Armenian schools or not? Haygagan tebrots gam 'odar'

[ckBejug]

I am talking about the pretentious Armenians who put their kids in odar pvt schools claiming that the curricula in the Armenian school are not well-implemented. Guess what? I've been to an Armenian school all my life. Where am I now? At university, along with those who went to the most prestigious and expensive private schools, and guess who does better most of the time?

If you think that where you are now is bacause of the fact that you went to an Armenian school, you're wrong. That's all you. I graduated at the top of my class and did the whole univeristy thing, etc. However, I could have had far more opportunities had I gone to a public school or a private American school. Here is one example... A lot of kids in high school don't really have any direction and they need things like a good college guidance counselor to help them out and remind them about deadlines and schedules, etc. You're a high school kid, sure you need to be responsible for yourself but a certain amount of direction is necessary. Want to know what happened at Ferrahian? We had a guidance counselor who was paid quite handsomely to do absolutely nothing. I contacted colleges for applications for myself and my classmates, I reminded everyone about SAT deadlines and college app deadlines. You know what she did? Came to us one day and said oh yeah yesterday was the SAT app deadline, you guys did it, right? Oh give me a break. At least she taught me a thing or two about fending for myself.

[dusken]

I can guarantee, the highschool I went to, as much as I hated the people there, provides a much better education than any Armenian school you can point to. Sorry. And of course it is because, since the school is not limited to an ethnicity, it has the opportunity to be more selective in terms of teachers and students.

"Who would encourage you to speak Armenian?" Try my parents. That is why I have an interest in culture and language.

Bejug: Public schools are worse in education than Armenian private schools.

[ckBejug]

Anyway I agree with Darorinag that there are certain very important benefits you reap when you go to Armenian schools. The fact that I can read and write Armenian and speak fluently, the fact that I can appreciate our literature and poetry, panasdeghdzootiuns, and that I know of Raffi and Siamanto, Baronian and Levon Shant, Derian and Tekeyan, etc etc etc... I guess the only thing to do is get involved and make sure the education level gets better. Anyway it helps that I've been through the school system to college, univeritsy, etc, so it's not like I won't be able to guide my kids like my parents couldn't only because they went through the school system in Syria, etc..

As for those who say they don't have time to learn Armenian... Books on tape. Don't tell me you don't drive anywhere? Buy a language tape, and good luck. No excuses now.

[ckBejug]

"Who would encourage you to speak Armenian?" Try my parents. That is why I have an interest in culture and language.

Very much agree!

Bejug: Public schools are worse in education than Armenian private schools.

Not true. Whenever I hear about this and that thing that is going on at the school where my mom is one of the AP's I wish ten times over that back when I was in high school I went there! I am not talking about taking regular classes in high school. We're better than just the regular classes, aren't we? I'm talking about the advanced and AP classes and honors programs, Gate programs and special tracks with emphasis on the arts or the sciences or math... Special learning academy's where you can make your schedule fit your needs. There are English academy's and science and math and art and theatre.. etc etc. I know first-hand how excellent public schools can be,

[violette829]

Bejug: Public schools are worse in education than Armenian private schools.

Wow...that was so wrong!

[dusken]

Special learning academy's where you can make your schedule fit your needs. There are English academy's and science and math and art and theatre.. etc etc.

These are not you normal public schools. I am talking about your common community public school, not magnets or special academies. Sure the quality differs from one community to another but for the most part, and I am only speaking about Los Angeles here, public schools do not compare to the Armenian private schools in your regular studies. When it comes to Advanced Placement, I do not know.

[dusken]

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.

[ckBejug]

These are not you normal public schools. I am talking about your common community public school, not magnets or special academies. Sure the quality differs from one community to another but for the most part, and I am only speaking about Los Angeles here, public schools do not compare to the Armenian private schools in your regular studies.

I am speaking of North Hollywood High School. That's just a regular community public school....

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.

Actually I did take AP Psychology, Biology, Environmental Science, Chemistry, American History, Government, and Calculus. However, my teachers for these classes sucked.

[dusken]

Unfortunate. And you know that AP teachers in public schools are better?

[ckBejug]

Oopsy, I forgot AP Literature and AP English too! But that teacher rocked.

Unfortunate. And you know that AP teachers in public schools are better?

Yes. I know this because my sister also took some AP classes and she would go to North Hollywood High and sit in on the AP supplemental classes they had during the weekends and she said it was excellent and she passed the tests...