Prelude
In the United States, formal education typically begins at the age of five, when children enter Kindergarten. After completing Kindergarten, students progress to the first grade. Notably, the concept of Lower Kindergarten (LKG) does not exist in the US public education system. Furthermore, public education is free for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Typically, children can be quite energetic and mischievous, making it challenging for parents to keep them engaged at home until they turn five. Additionally, with many parents having busy work schedules, daycare centers have become increasingly popular in the USA. These centers not only provide childcare but also offer transportation services, dropping off children at school and picking them up afterwards. As a result, numerous private schools and churches now provide educational programs for two-year-olds, serving as a precursor to traditional Kindergarten.
In the US, children often attend nursery and pre-Kindergarten programs at private schools or church-affiliated institutions. Typically, these programs offer half-day schooling, and the two-year educational period comes with a hefty price tag. To make their programs more appealing, some private institutions offer flexible scheduling options, such as two or three days a week, which can result in relatively lower tuition fees.
In Texas, and likely other states, the US government funds a full-day Pre-Kindergarten program. Given Texas's proximity to Mexico, there is a sizable Mexican population. Many immigrant families, both documented and undocumented, face financial constraints that limit their access to affordable education for their children before they enter Kindergarten. As Spanish is their primary language, these children often struggle with English, which can hinder their ability to keep up with their peers in Kindergarten. To address this challenge, each school district offers free Pre-Kindergarten programs that focus on teaching English language skills, basic reading, and writing. These programs also provide free transportation to and from the nearest bus stop. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that all children enter Kindergarten on an equal footing with their peers. These programs are specifically designed to help children transition smoothly into elementary school within the same public school system. They focus on the skills and knowledge deemed necessary for success in kindergarten.
Now, I'd like to share an incident that actually happened with us.
In July 2013, my grandson Abhirama was four years old. Since he was my daughter's first child, we made a conscious effort to communicate with him in Kannada at home to ensure he didn't forget his native language. Abhirama was a shy child who rarely interacted with other kids in our neighborhood colony. He felt more comfortable with a family member by his side. As a result, he didn't get many opportunities to play with other children or learn English. Although my daughter had taught him to write the English alphabet, his spoken English skills were limited. He had an excellent memory and excelled in oral tests, but struggled with speaking in English. Through our neighborhood connections and visits to the public library, we had befriended some American families. These libraries often host weekly gatherings, called "storytelling time," where children can socialize while enjoying storytelling, singing, and dancing. Some renowned book publishers even conduct workshops for young children. A British woman who was one of our library friends (pictured) informed us about a special Pre-K program and encouraged us to apply for admission.
An application was subsequently submitted to the special school. We then received a call letter inviting us to bring Abhirama in for an interview.
I still vividly remember that day. In July 2013, I accompanied my son-in-law, daughter, and grandson Abhirama to the school.
As I mentioned earlier, Abhirama had never interacted with other children, likely due to his shy nature and limited English proficiency. A teacher took him to a separate room to assess his English skills. There were four teachers in total, each conducting interviews with children in individual closed rooms.
Abhirama burst into tears, repeatedly crying out "ಅಮ್ಮ ಬೇಕು" (I want my mother). The teacher attempted to calm him down with offers of chocolate, but to no avail. Since Abhirama didn't know English, he couldn't express himself and continued crying, unable to utter a single word in English. After five minutes, he emerged from the room. It's likely that he would have performed well in oral tests and alphabet recognition if he had felt more at ease, ideally with his mother by his side.
While the next child underwent the assessment, we were asked to wait until all the children had completed their interviews.
After an hour, the Principal summoned us and said...
"Congratulations.. we approve your son's admission to our school. Your son has failed the test"..
"Don't worry we will make him learn English in reading and writing"
(Mark the word.. congratulations 😀)
As a result, my grandson secured admission to the full-day Pre-K program at no cost. He gradually adjusted to the school environment, and soon he would get ready on time every day, eager not to miss the bus or school. Notably, he picked up spoken English within just two to three months.
Later, I researched online and discovered that the government invests approximately $10,000 per child for their Pre-K education.
The happening doesn't end...
Encouraged by Abhirama's success, my daughter decided to apply for admission for our second grandson, Adhokshaja, in 2017. However, Adhokshaja's personality was quite different from his older brother's. He had already befriended some of Abhirama's classmates and had begun speaking English, despite our family's efforts to converse with him in Kannada.
Undeterred, my daughter pursued the option of free schooling and applied for Pre-K admission. As a result, she received a call to bring Adhokshaja in for an interview.
I wasn't present on the day of the interview. My daughter took Adhokshaja, her second son, to the school for the assessment. She had instructed him to respond in Kannada to any questions the teacher might ask.
Adhokshaja confidently walked into the teacher's room and returned within two minutes. Curious, my daughter asked him, "What happened?" He excitedly replied that the teacher had offered him chocolates, which he happily accepted, and that he had answered all the questions fluently in English.
My daughter returned home without waiting for the outcome. As it turned out, she later received an email stating that Adhokshaja was exceptionally intelligent, had answered all questions correctly, and didn't require any additional coaching. Consequently, his admission application was denied.
So...
Our kid passed the interview but failed to get admission. 😀
Subsequently, to address the mischievous behavior at home, my daughter enrolled Adhokshaja in a private school for a year, attending half-day sessions. The monthly tuition fee was approximately $300+.
Hope you have enjoyed the paradox.
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