Thanks
We are debating on whether to put our child (When the time comes) into public school or SIS or ISB. Can anyone give pros vs cons? Also has anyone have more information on the "sex Box" I keep hearing about with regards to the swiss schools
Almost merits a groan as this has been debated ad nauseum... but kids/school etc.
Seems to boil down to...
If you can afford it (or someone else is paying) and you're only planning on staying a few years, then the international school
If you think your kids will grow up and stay here... then state school... and don't worry about the Sex Box
Other opinions are available...
I'd reword that a bit: the language of education will be the main academic language of your child. Pick the one you want. If you want a real bilingual child as young adult, there will have to be real work on the second one outside school. Academic language doesn't come by just lostening in daily life. To a certain extend, the most important is not the schooling, it's what you do with the other language.
Nothing against a mix. Primary school local and then two years in international middle school and then you evaluate the situation depending on the personality and abilitiesmof your child (the other way around is far more difficult).
There is an alternative to SIS - Academia bilingual school.
Worth looking into.
Faltrad - Thank you for your kind reply. It does help reading your opinion.
As I understand this has been asked several times and I apolodize if my question seemed annoying but being here only a few short months, I want to ensure that I do the best by my child (meaning money is not the objective issue here). Again thank you for your guidance.
Thanks will do
I know nonSwiss adults who have gone through the Swiss system, and are now working here.
I also know nonSwiss adults who have gone totally through the international school system in Basel and are also working here.
( by the way, there are four options that I am aware of at elementary level - BIS, SIS, ELA and Acadamia, plus, are you also at all interested in checking out the local Steiner school?)
I also know of a Swiss parent who cae back from overseas, put their children into the local Swiss system, decided it did not work and now have their children very happy at high school level at one of the Basel international schools.
And obviously there are many Swiss folk who are happy with their children being in the Swiss system.
What is best for one, is not the best for all. I suggest that every parent check out ALL the available options before making a decision as to what is best for their child and indeed, for the whole family - this includes considering the hours the school is open, how long the commute is and how convenient that is to you, the school philosophy, the subjects offered including extracurricula, the relationship with the larger community an dany other things that are of particular interest or concern for you - it seems that sex education is an issue, so that is something you might like to discuss before making any decisions. Best of luck. :-)
An official communicate (PDF, DE) from Basel Statd's Education Department estates that the Sex-Box is provided at the primary level just to be used by the teacher in case a child comes up with specific questions on the matter.
Going Local: Your Guide to Swiss Schooling [Paperback]
Margaret Oertig (Author), Marc Locatelli (Illustrator)
Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Bergli Books Ltd (28 July 2012) ISBN-10: 3905252252 ISBN-13: 978-3905252255
Yeah no with my child. Sorry at that age the answers would be coming from me and not using a dildo or fabric vagina.
You should probably read the document where the say that there are not dildos , vaginas or objects resembling sexual organs in the box given for the primary level. The material is intended to explain by necessity that children can complain against unwanted touching or contact.
The 'sex education' my daughter received in enfantine was very harmless and wholesome, focusing on messages of privacy and saying no to inappropriate touching, explaining the differences between boys and girls, ensuring the kids don't think that body parts and functions are 'dirty', that sort of thing.
My son had a program in 4th grade, I think it was, where they explained the puberty changes that'll be coming along the line, how they are not to make unkind comments on each other's physical appearance, everyone develops at different rates, etc.
It was honestly all fine, and parents were invited to an evening where they explained everything that would be covered; there was also an opt out if parents felt strongly they didn't want their child there (I don't recall anyone taking this up in either class).
I have WAY less issue with any of this than I do about my son's current US school system sex curriculum which he will do in 9th grade - an 'abstinence only' one which will refuse to discuss contraception and shame them out of such behaviour.
Just to say that Going Local - your guide to Swiss schooling, mentioned above, is available from local Swiss bookshops that stock books in English, for around CHF 29.80.
It can also be ordered from Bergli Books (same price plus postage): http://www.bergli.ch/100/con_liste.a...sStartPageNext =
and from abroad, from the Book Depository in England, around 26 Euros, but postage free worldwide: http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Goin.../9783905252255