Shell employee & parent
Herbert Smith employee and mother
Baker & McKenzie employee and carer
The role of education in relocation
by Elizabeth Perelstein, President,
School Choice International
When families with children relocate, schooling often is the most stressful aspect of the move
Will my child miss her old friends? Will he make new ones? Will he get into a good school? How will she fare in a new country, forced to communicate in a new language? Will she be challenged? Will he be too challenged? If he doesn't get into the right school, what will I tell my friends? Will she get back into her former school when we move home?
Choosing schools when relocating
When moving to a new country the choice of school is a pivotal element in integrating into a new country, a new community, and a new network of friends. When a family gets the school right, the entire move starts out on the right foot. Considering its importance for the child as well as for the family, choosing a school when relocating can be a daunting prospect.
At a time when traditionally you may feel you have little or no choice, I believe that a move is, in fact, an unrepeatable and exciting opportunity to envision and create nothing less than a whole new life for your child and your family.
A thoughtful school search
In selecting a school in a new location, parents sometimes need to be reminded to look beyond the immediate pain of transition to the lessons ultimately learned. When parents can reframe temporary adversity as an experience that teaches children to embrace the unexpected, solve problems and advocate for themselves, they are suddenly relieved from guilt and empowered to make difficult decisions that ultimately are in the best interests of their child.
The school search is a chance to reflect on one's child and get him/her on the right path for life. A thoughtful school search helps relocating parents understand what education really means, and what a transformative opportunity an overseas assignment can offer.
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