What are public kindergartens like in new york?
The principle of choice is the distance from home+intuitive judgment of field trip.
We live in the west of midtown Manhattan, and we don't consider private kindergartens. There are not many choices for public schools. We have chosen three school consultants, and there is basically no need to make an appointment in advance. The teacher will make a general introduction, and then prepare relevant materials according to the application requirements on the website of new york Education Bureau. The school will also give an application form and a list of materials to be prepared, including parents' ID cards, family residence certificates, income certificates, work certificates and children's birth certificates. After the materials are fully prepared, they are handed over to the school, which then reports them to the Education Bureau, and then they are waiting for approval. After there is a vacancy in the school, you can enroll.
You can apply for public schools for visas such as work, study and visit in the United States.
Generally speaking, the application process is 1-6 months, mainly depending on the degree of the school. We are very lucky. Less than a month after the whole application process, we received a phone call from the school for admission.
Public kindergartens in new york are divided into three grades: early education, Pre-K and K, which respectively correspond to small classes, middle classes and large classes in China. The degree of early education is in short supply, which is not free and compulsory, and needs equality. Children over two years old can apply, mainly for families where both parents work. Because early education in the United States advocates that parents raise their children by themselves until they are 3 years old. Fees are charged according to parents' income, ranging from tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars per month, which is only a symbolic fee compared with the monthly fee of $3,000 for private kindergartens.
Pre-K and k are similar to our compulsory education. There are many degrees, and you can enter school when you are old. Free, including lunch. For example, children born in 20 12 can be pre-k in September of 20 16.
The school we applied for is early education ccenter, and the highest grade is only pre-K, including Purple Room (2-3 years old), Blue Room (3-4 years old) and Red Room (Pre-K).
Other types of schools include preschool education centers, regional schools and charter schools. The grade of each school type is different, and it is chosen according to the admission time. For example, the lowest grade of charter schools usually begins with K.
When we first entered, we stayed in the purple room for two months, and then changed to the blue room. I will be promoted to the red room in September!
Walking in the street, you will often see the propaganda slogan posted by the Education Bureau, Pre-K for All. Anyone living in new york, rich or poor, can enroll eligible children.
When I visited the school on the spot, I also deeply felt the gap between the rich and the poor and the solidification of social class.
The first school we went to was located in a public rental housing community. The classroom of the school is in the semi-basement, and there is no independent closed playground. Children have to cross the street to the community playground for outdoor activities. None of the children in the classroom is white. The bathroom floor is wet and not very clean.
The second school is a branch of the first school. It is built in a church, on the fourth floor, and there is no elevator. The children's classroom is transformed from the kitchen, and there is no room for outdoor activities at all.
After seeing these two schools, I am quite worried about going to public kindergartens in Beijing. The conditions are much better than this! I secretly made up my mind that I would never allow children, especially girls, to grow up in such an environment.
I didn't see a normal kindergarten until I went to No.3 Middle School.
The classroom is bright and can see the sun. There are many functional areas.
Rich toys, clean and tidy environment.
There is also a library area, and there are a certain number of books in the classroom.
There is an independent closed playground.
Later, after careful study, the three schools have different geographical locations and different positioning. The first two schools are in the government policy housing area, and the family income has an upper limit. If it exceeds the limit, it will not be collected, mainly for low-income families (about 22,000 per year). The apartment building in the community where No.3 Middle School is located is relatively new, surrounded by 4S shops of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. Family income will be considered when submitting materials, but there is no requirement for the upper limit of family income. Therefore, the sources of students are diversified, including whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians.
Chatting with the parents I met in the park and long-term observation show that the children of families with educated parents and working parents living in Manhattan, especially white people, are basically private kindergartens. I once met a white father. He is a programmer himself, his wife works in a multinational company, and their two children go to private schools.
Of course, there are also great public schools, mostly in the upper east and upper west. Primary schools, in particular, are also teaching areas like Beijing. Exclude the children of the poor with house prices and rents. A sad reality.
* * Independent * *. When Mei Tian first went to the Purple Room, the youngest child in her class was two years and one month old, Hispanic, and her family language was Spanish. When Mei Tian cried hysterically, the little boy never cried. When I miss my mother, I will go to the closet and hold my blanket in my arms.
I talked to his mother, and she said it was because she deliberately cultivated his independence. Children who are two years old and one month old should wash their hands, go to the toilet, eat, wash dishes, brush their teeth, make their beds and sleep, and wear clothes and shoes at school. I did everything myself. When Mei Tian was two years old and one month old, it was unthinkable.
* * Positive * *. Their American parents are also practicing this view and practice. One afternoon, when I went to pick up Mei Tian from school, Camden, a little white boy in our class, shouted no, no to his mother! Throw things. His mother didn't say, don't throw anything! ! Instead, let him reach out and ask him: What is the hand used for? It's for picking things up! Then his mother picked up the clothes he had thrown away. Then he said that the hand was still used to "give me five", so he gave a "give me five" to kanden. This practice has given me great enlightenment. I always say don't do this, don't do that, give children all kinds of restrictions. It's better to express it positively and tell her the right way. This is a habit of thinking, in intentional practice.
* * Attachment * *. I feel that the theoretical basis of American child psychology is based on attachment. At first, when Mei Tian didn't adapt to kindergarten, I talked with several teachers for a long time. They all think that children in China are not brought up by their parents, but by their grandparents, so they feel insecure and their attachment to their mothers is unstable. Why don't American children cry when they go to kindergarten? Because they were raised by their parents before they were two years old! ! ! Because their attachment to their parents is safe and secure! Going to the playground and the library can prove that 50% was brought by my mother, and it was delayed. 30% is played by father, and 20% is played by nanny or Asian grandparents. Therefore, there is a theoretical basis for more and more elite women to become full-time mothers after childbirth. When I was a working mother, I envied a full-time mother. I really had the opportunity to be a full-time mother for several years before I knew the struggle and hardship. Psychological adjustment of stay-at-home mothers is another particularly grand discussion topic.
* * Come hard. In the first two months, when Mei Tian was sent to the kindergarten to say goodbye, she always cried and said, Mom, hug me! Mom, hug me again. Hearing these words will break your heart! So I always encourage her very gently. The teacher watched anxiously, because this method still didn't work after two months. The teacher asked me to do it hard, and they felt that sometimes they should be strong and brittle. Put it down and leave. Don't look back. After crying with her, I found that children need a sense of security that their parents are stronger than themselves. Sometimes being strong can reassure children.
* * Routine * *. One day, I had an afternoon class, which was half an hour later than the usual time to pick up Mei Tian. When I arrived at school, the teacher said to me: She doesn't know the time, but she knows the routine! This child is really a magical creature. She began to cry when you didn't show up when you should have. I haven't had an afternoon class since then. But try to live a regular life every day, and don't break her rules at will. Children need this fixed rhythm, which will make them feel safe.
-The teacher basically does not teach knowledge, but introduces common sense, such as week, month, spring, summer, autumn and winter, shape, color, the origin of festivals, ceremonies, etc.
-pay attention to the cultivation of behavior habits, collective life, and the way to solve problems when conflicts occur. For example, cover your mouth with your arm when you cough, wipe your hands with paper towels instead of sleeves when you get dirty, push the chair in after dinner, and ask the other person to stop when you grab toys.
Do what you can. If you can't, ask the teacher for help. For example, you need to wear a down jacket before going out to the playground. Many children don't zip up after putting them on themselves, waiting in line to ask the teacher for help.
-Helping others requires the consent of the other person. When I was with Mei Tian for a few days, I saw children playing with toys in the classroom. Can I help you? This is the most common conversation they hear when playing with toys. The other party agreed to help, otherwise it would be a toy grab and would be criticized by the teacher. This also shows that the school is still protecting children's space for independent exploration and trial and error.
-Class rules must be observed. They have meeting time every morning, mainly to repeat the rules in class. Teachers will make songs and teach them what to say in specific situations. The teacher says it's a rule, so you must abide by it.