| Title: | Welcome to the Non-Custodial Parents Conference | 
| Notice: | Please read 1.* before writing anything | 
| Moderator: | MIASYS::HETRICK | 
| Created: | Sun Feb 25 1990 | 
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 420 | 
| Total number of notes: | 4370 | 
    As you know, I'm going through a divorce in Switzerland, but want
    to be with my son as much as possible once I return to the US.
    
    One issue I have is about school systems. I'd love for him to spend
    several years (at least!) in a US school. My ex says that would
    be "traumatic". I say "not at all, it could be enriching and exciting.
    it depends on how it's done". Now I can't do anything legally to
    get custody or to ensure he could study in the US. But I could somehow
    show her that it could be a positive thing. No small task...
    
    Right now, she is too insecure to ever see that being separated
    from her son could be positive for him. But over time things may
    change. 
    
    Does hanyone have any comments, pointers etc on how kids adapt /can
    adapt to different school systems in different countries?
    
    Theo
    
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81.1 | foreign exchange | CSC32::HADDOCK | All Irk and No Pay | Wed Aug 15 1990 10:29 | 3 | 
|     Point out the Foreign Exchange student program.  That's considered
    'positive' for the exchange students.
    fred();
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| 81.2 | Know of one family who did it | FSHQA1::AWASKOM | Thu Aug 16 1990 10:43 | 22 | |
|     My son's best friend is a young man who is French.  He (and his
    sisters) moved to our small Massachusetts town about 3 years ago, and
    they all went to the local schools.  First advantage - those kids are
    truly bi-lingual, and they took a third language for classes.  All of
    the family has done very well academically.  My son's friend is now
    living in Montreal and finishing his last year of high school there. 
    No problems with transfer credits, course selection, etc., either
    coming in or moving on.
    
    Reports of physical danger, drugs and the like, while real and serious,
    are exagerated.  Kids who are busy and active meet kids of like
    interests and stay away from the worst of the problems.  Lack of
    academic rigor can be an issue.  The friend's family solved at least
    part of this by having their children continue a correspondance course
    approved by the French government to keep up with their French!  At its
    best, the US system(s) encourage young people to think for themselves
    and to question the daily torrent of information for its relevance and
    accuracy.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    Alison
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