Islamic/Public/French Immersion school

[Niksik]

Re: Islamic/Public/French Immersion school

@junooni_g

Salam all,

Our daughter will be starting school this coming September. My wife and I are not sure which one would be the best for her at this time. We were first thinking Islamic school, but some people said it is not worth it in the beginning. May be after few years.

Public schooling is the next option, but we are concerned of what goes/happens in the school and what is taught (valentines days, easters, christmas, halloweens etc.). The teachings will be contradicting what we are teaching the kid at home (i.e. we do not celebrate these things etc.)

French Immersion is also an option. The only plus point I see there is that she will learn French. But will it be good option if, eventually, she will be going to the Islamic School anyway?

We strictly speak Urdu at home. So, she has to learn English at school as well.

Any experiences/comments are most welcome.

Thanks,
J

1. Islamic schools are great, and your daughter will benefit greatly if she can start there.
2. Public schools do promote all the events you talked about yes, but again, if you are providing a solid foundation for your child at home, she should not get carried away by those. I am speaking from experience here. My older daughter goes to a public school, is in 2nd grade now, and has been exposed to all those, but while I allow her to participate in school based activities, she never asks to carry those on at home. Also, if you will notice, the holidays you mentioned are now being celebrated with much vigor and enthusiasm even back home. So you cannot protect your child so much, but instill in them the securities and values that make them appreciate their own holidays.
3. I have no experience in French Immersion schools.
4. I wish desi parents were a little bit more flexible with speaking both English and their native tongue at home. You see more and more parents stressing their own languages thinking that they would learn English anyways…but they don’t realize how it can pull a child back when they are all of a sudden faced with a brand new style of communication. They have to spend more energy and time trying to familiarize themselves with English ina ddition to comprehending all the subjects which are in English of course.

I would recommend you enrol your daughter in English as a second language program at this time before she begins school in September so she starts of with the right momentum and confidence.