DoDDS (schools and tuition)

[DougP]

Ok I've been wondering something for quite sometime now.
A friend of mine is now sending his child to a DoDDS school now and is paying out the ass in tuition fees. How is it that someone who is working for the US government, has SOFA, and is also a reservist has to pay tuition (17,000 USD a year ) ?

The purpose of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is to plan, direct, coordinate, and manage the education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA consists of two separate but parallel systems: the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) (formerly Section 6 Schools) located in the United States and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from prekindergarten through grade 12.

So why wouldn't someone working for the military not be covered under this?
Why are they not eligible?

Are DoDDS schools mostly funded by the government like their stateside schools are funded by federal and state gov.? Isn't 17000 a year a bit too high for an elementary school?

If these schools are specifically for DoD military and civilian dependents shouldn't all DoD military and civilian dependents be eligible?

My thought on this is that it is complete BS! Billions of tax dollars go to fund a war yet they can't cover down on tuition costs for DoD military and civilian dependents. So "Joe contractor" can work for the Gov. but has to foot the bill to send his kid to school. Even if "Joe contractor" is making a good salary why should he have to pay to send his kid to an american school? Would he have to if he was stateside?

When my wife and I have children we will not send them to a DoDDS school even if I'm working for the gov. Japanese public schools will be just fine.

[Ammoyankee]

I was told before that depending on what SOFA you have, schooling is schooling is not free of charge. My own opinion on the exuberant price is a type of "population control" for DODDS. They realize your average laborer/ retiree cannot or will not be able to afford to use on-base schools. That's why the "American" schools off base have booming business at $4-500 a month!

[Fonze]

I think it's way to much to pay and agree the child should be covered or given a way bigger discount.

BUT contractors that work for the Gov. also make tons more than active duty do.

[DoctorP]

I don't understand your argument? Military and SOFA status civilians (GS) can send their kids to school at no charge. Contractors have no affiliation with the government, except for their contract to provide a service. Why should they go for free? Up until just a few years ago (3?) local hires and MCCS workers could only sign their kids up as space available. Now at least, even if you work as a GS-5, your kids are automatically eligible to attend, and it doesn't cost you a dime.

[DougP]

I don't understand your argument? Military and SOFA status civilians (GS) can send their kids to school at no charge. Contractors have no affiliation with the government, except for their contract to provide a service.

Some contractors are on SOFA status. And some contractor may also be part of a reserve component. Why wouldn't they be eligible? Why would a school system affiliated with the government (DoD) charge tuition? I understand some contractors make a lot of money but not all of them do. If there was a specific tuition assistance that the contractors were getting paid then it wouldn't be such a big issue.

Wouldn't it be better if the government provided all their employees and other Americans working for them the same oppertunity? After all at least in the states contractors would have the option to send their kids to a public school.

And last but not least do you really think I mean Really think 17,000 is worth it?

[DoctorP]

I never said it was worth $17K...and it is not the governments (at least not the DOD's) problem how a contractor educates their children. Contractors have to be smart about negotiating their deals.

Want school paid for...put it in the contract. These are things to look at when taking a job here.

I was offered a contracting job, with really good pay, but the wife wouldn't have an ID, and I would have to pay for the kids school...I weighed the options and then turned them down. To me, at the time, working as a GS-7 was a better deal. Ten years from now that may change.

[socalheart]

Your quoted material states, "DoDEA provides education...," not that they pay for it 100%. There's no reference of the origin of the quote, so was unable to look into it further. There are other options here on island, unlike perhaps other more remote places outside the US. The English speaking private school I went to here as a kid is now approximately US$6000 (http://www.ocsi.org/english/?q=node/101) for one child. The parent has a choice.

Here are other things I found on the subject:
Compare A-76: (http://www.comparea76.com/Advisories.asp?L=CA&L2=VA&conBP=1&AdvisoryNumber=A.2005.02.01&vmode=printable) DoDEA personnel while stationed with the DoDDS in Europe and Japan can have their children attend DoDDS school tuition free. Tuition for non-authorized personnel is approximately $15K.
AirForceTimes: (http://www.airforcetimes.com/benefits/family_resources/military_education_dependents_2007hbml/) DoDDS is free for children of service members and federal civilian employees. Enrollment is guaranteed for “command-sponsored” children, those whom the active-duty member has official approval to bring overseas at government expense. Children without command sponsorship can enroll free if space is available. Nonmilitary children also can enroll if space is available, but they must pay tuition.
Military Report: (http://www.military.com/MilitaryReport/0,12914,MR_Tuition_NAF,00.html) Government contract employees, Japanese nationals, and U.S. citizens living overseas but not working for the government may also enroll their children in DODDS if space is available, although they will be required to pay tuition. (2002)
DODDS-E Enrollment & Eligibilty (http://www.eu.dodea.edu/enroll.htm): (possibly similar to DoDEA Pacific)
· Space Required, Tuition Free
· Space Required, Tuition Paying
· Space Guaranteed, Tuition Paying
· Space Available, Tuition Paying, Federally Connected
· Space Available, Tuition Free
· Space Available, Tuition Paying, Non-Federally Connected
(I'd look into it more, but am having connection issues with the dodds/dodea pages.)

[DougP]

I guess its gone up from 15k then. And yes it say it provides but doesn't say it pays. One of those fine print things where you have to read between the lines. My argument is whether or not a DoD school should be charging tuition let alone tuition that is on par with most state universities.

Would it really be so bad for the US government to offer a school (provide an education) that is free or at least low cost to those that are working for it. Not that they may be getting paid directly by the government but they are American citizens providing a service to the government. Should the US government provide an enviroment similar to the US where education can at least be obtainable for free?

What does that say when US citizens working over here(on base) as contractors have to turn to a private school or a japanese public school because a DoD school charges such a high tuition?

I'm not saying its illegal I'm just saying it doesn't seem right to me.

hense the rant :D

[DoctorP]

What does that say when US citizens working over here(on base) as contractors have to turn to a private school or a japanese public school because a DoD school charges such a high tuition?

I'm not saying its illegal I'm just saying it doesn't seem right to me.

hense the rant :D

It says that the individual felt that the job and living in Japan was worth any drawbacks he/she may come across.

Believe me, I'm not agaist your argument, just argueing the gov't side...hell, I just paid close to $500 for shots for my kids to go to school this year...does that seem right to you?

[DougP]

Did you pay to get those shots on base? If I'm understanding our health insurance policy(japanese) correctly it wouldn't cost us a whole lot to get our kid(s) inoculated if we had kids :) (off base)

[socalheart]

I agree that military/govt. contractors and defined GS are different in status. I suppose it comes down to individual contracts and benefits.
My father and his company were military contractors, but unauthorised for DODDS. The same for his GS counterpart. (Disclaimer: This was pre-1990.)

I think, those individuals hired from the states should be allowed to use the DODDS system free of charge, but on a space-a basis. Those hired here (or wherever overseas) shouldn't expect access to the DODDS system for free, but should be given access to it on a space-a basis and pay for tuition with the option to apply for tuition assistance or grants. If from a state with a charter school system, perhaps the ability to transfer credit vouchers.

[DoctorP]

Did you pay to get those shots on base? If I'm understanding our health insurance policy(japanese) correctly it wouldn't cost us a whole lot to get our kid(s) inoculated if we had kids :) (off base)

Some shots are not required in Japan, therefore not offered. We usually get flu shots in town, as it is cheaper.

[ryukyuboi]

I believe DoDEA calculates the tuition based on their operating costs divided by the number of students serviced per year.

Operating costs include transportation of students (over $1 million per year for Okinawa alone), books and other materials, such as computers and playground equipment.

Operating costs include transportation costs related to employment, training, salaries, housing, COLA, insurance, and medical to name a few.

Operating costs include maintenance of facilities and utilities.

The cost to the US taxpayer to operate the schools is very high. There is nothing free about operating the schools.

The tuition has always been high for anyone not covered directly to be able to receive the education for free. While I agree it would be great for almost anyone and his brother to be able to attend school for free, the US government doesn't agree. I suppose it can't afford to do so.

Space is not always available either. I think members of the active military would strongly protest if their child was not able to be serviced because someone else (space available types) took all the available space. I think the system was designed primarily for the active military sponsor.

[Fonze]

I just talked to a G-S friend and he says his kids are space available and he has a friend thats a contractor and that they are giving him extra money specifically for his kids school that was in his contract. I told him about this situation and he said this guy should made those arrangements in his contract.

So for me I have some pity, but not much.

[DoctorP]

That's news to me...I'm pretty sure, with last years changes, that all base workers (NAF and GS) are no longer space available...but space required. I remember when the change came out, because it directly affected me! I'm not sure your friend knows what they are talking about.

[Fonze]

Maybe he said space required. I don't recall nor did I think there was a difference.

[DoctorP]

There is a diff...space required means your child has a seat no matter what. Space A means your child may have a seat after all of the space required seats are taken care of...but since my kids went on base I have never heard of anyone being turned away.

[DougP]

I just talked to a G-S friend and he says his kids are space available and he has a friend thats a contractor and that they are giving him extra money specifically for his kids school that was in his contract. I told him about this situation and he said this guy should made those arrangements in his contract.

So for me I have some pity, but not much.

Well that would make some sense but if the said civilian has been working on a contract for around a decade and his child is obviously just starting school its kinda of hard to say "You should have gotten that "extra" money in your contract."

I understand the space available aspect but that goes along with proper planning. If you are going to create X amount of slots(jobs) for a certain area that could potentially mean X amout of dependents then perhaps you should have the infrastructure to accommodate it.

[Fonze]

Well that would make some sense but if the said civilian has been working on a contract for around a decade and his child is obviously just starting school its kinda of hard to say "You should have gotten that "extra" money in your contract."

I understand the space available aspect but that goes along with proper planning. If you are going to create X amount of slots(jobs) for a certain area that could potentially mean X amout of dependents then perhaps you should have the infrastructure to accommodate it.

Well then that explains it then. He had no child in school and now he does. I hope he gets everything fixed so for his childs sake. Maybe he can renegotiate his contract.

[DougP]

My friend and his kid will be just fine. Luckily he is one of the better paid contractors that can cope with the high tuition rate. Others may not be so fortunate.

[Tempestuous]

Believe me, I'm not agaist your argument, just argueing the gov't side...hell, I just paid close to $500 for shots for my kids to go to school this year...does that seem right to you?


They cannot REQUIRE you to vaccinate. You can provide them with a waiver that states it is against your personal or religious beliefs to inoculate and they have to honor it.
Now does the Japanese government have this form? I do not know, but in the states they do, and you can utilize a state-side issued form at an oversees school. (Knew some one that dealt with all of this before)

(Even military members can get a wavier for vaccinations, however, they have to COME IN with it. You can't suddenly cry for one after you have been in for a few years. )

The school does have the right at the time of an "outbreak" to deny access to the school to an non-vaccinated student until the school is deemed free of the outbreak.

Now what you likely ran into is that your kiddo's were vaccinated in accordance to your regional area, so they said you must pay for these others shots before you can enter our school system, not that you were refraining from the shots all together.

[silviasichigo]

I believe DoDEA calculates the tuition based on their operating costs divided by the number of students serviced per year.

Operating costs include transportation of students (over $1 million per year for Okinawa alone), books and other materials, such as computers and playground equipment.

Operating costs include transportation costs related to employment, training, salaries, housing, COLA, insurance, and medical to name a few.

Operating costs include maintenance of facilities and utilities.

The cost to the US taxpayer to operate the schools is very high. There is nothing free about operating the schools.

The tuition has always been high for anyone not covered directly to be able to receive the education for free. While I agree it would be great for almost anyone and his brother to be able to attend school for free, the US government doesn't agree. I suppose it can't afford to do so.

Space is not always available either. I think members of the active military would strongly protest if their child was not able to be serviced because someone else (space available types) took all the available space. I think the system was designed primarily for the active military sponsor.

The only issue I see with that statment is calculating cost based on an "estimate" of how many students will have to pay that $17,000 tuition would be inaccurate until actual numbers of students were on the sign up sheets. That number is out well before sign up is requested. I guess they are basing it on the previous fiscal year. :-| On my previous contract I was going to enroll my Child into DoD's I had Article b SOFA which provided the opportunity but at that time tuition was $16,000 I just could not grasp why it was that much. I am not going to try and guess why they charge what they do but damn just seeing it all written down on a from in front of me hurt to see.

[Asshat]

The regulations governing who is authorized to use DoDDS schools are based on USC 921-932 title 20. The DoDEA regulation is found at: http://www.dodea.edu/foia/iod/pdf/1030_1.pdf

The DoDEA director sets the cost. It is up to the agencies to pay or not pay tuition for contracted employees.

[silviasichigo]

I never looked to deep into it, I just know it was a little shocking.

[ryukyuboi]

The vast majority (probably 95% or more) of students who attend DoDDS schools attend freely. The US government, in essence, pays for their tuition. The $17,000 tuition is what it costs the US government per student.

Enrollment numbers would always be in a state of flux throughout the school year. So, there must be a point in time when it is determined the total number of students serviced by the system. The end of the fiscal year makes a lot of sense.

Other costs would fluctuate as well depending on the current exchange rate and market trends. There aren't many goods or services that have become any cheaper over time.

Did your contract stipulate that education costs would be covered for your dependent by your employer? Just curious.....

[silviasichigo]

The vast majority (probably 95% or more) of students who attend DoDDS schools attend freely. The US government, in essence, pays for their tuition. The $17,000 tuition is what it costs the US government per student.

Enrollment numbers would always be in a state of flux throughout the school year. So, there must be a point in time when it is determined the total number of students serviced by the system. The end of the fiscal year makes a lot of sense.

Other costs would fluctuate as well depending on the current exchange rate and market trends. There aren't many goods or services that have become any cheaper over time.

Did your contract stipulate that education costs would be covered for your dependent by your employer? Just curious.....

The First year of the contract it was not even a consideration, however when it came up for re-bid it was slated as an %80 payout so still way better than nothing. But that is neither here nor there as that contract no longer exsists :(

[DougP]

Just wanted to add a little something that was posted up on ZY earlier. Interesting stuff to say the least. Maybe this will get tacked on to next years tuition fees.

Marines to conduct surprise inspections at two Camp Foster schools
Action being taken for student and faculty safety, Corps says
By Will Morris, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, September 19, 2007

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — The Marine Corps will administer unannounced inspections periodically at two Camp Foster schools, where they will look through wall lockers, backpacks and vehicles for drugs, weapons and other forbidden items, base officials said Monday.

A base order signed last week set up how the inspections will be conducted at Kubasaki High and Lester Middle schools. A similar program is already being conducted by the Air Force at Kadena Air Base.

Capt. Josh Watson, inspections and investigating officer for the Marine Corps Base Command Inspector General’s Office, said the inspections are about student and faculty safety.

“It’s not in response to any particular event or anything that happened, it’s basically just a proactive measure to ensure that the schools remain safe and that students don’t do anything they shouldn’t be doing,” he said.

Sgt. Maj. William Fitzgerald of Headquarters and Service Battalion, Camp Foster, said that a team of roughly 60 Marines E-7 and above will receive special training from the Provost Marshal Office on how to conduct inspections, including classes on what type of items to look for and how to deal with teens and preteens in a sensitive and courteous manner.

On the day of an inspection, the 60-man team will show up at a school and, after a brief announcement, will begin the inspection.

According to a Marine press release, “Searches will include student’s lockers, book-bags and personally-owned vehicles. At no times will the students themselves be inspected, nor will they be required to empty their pockets.”

Students will be able to request an inspector of the same gender when their belongings are checked, according to the release.

School faculty members are exempt from the inspections, Fitzgerald said.

Contraband items will be turned over to the school or to the Provost Marshal Office, and any disciplinary action will be taken by the school in consultation with the child’s parents, according to base officials.

The inspection process should last less than two hours initially, and will lessen as the inspectors become more familiar with the inspections, officials said.

Stars and Stripes was not allowed to speak to any Kubasaki High School student. Steven Sanchez, principal of Kubasaki High School, declined to comment about the inspections. Al Grade, the principal of Lester Middle School, could not be reached for comment.

Laura Stoller, communication officer for Department of Defense Dependents Schools, said the school district welcomes the inspections.

“We fully support their efforts to ensure the safety of all of our students,” she said.

[P_chan]

So did they do the inspections yet? If not, then how does it make it a surprise if they put it in the paper?

[DougP]

I have no idea. I'm still trying to figure out how a year at a DoDDS elementary school can cost you 17 grand :rolleyes:

[FDokinawa]

Doug, I dont know why it costs so much.. but luckly my contract covers this. If you have kids at where I work, the army(round-a-bout throug our company) pays the tab. The only real problem that we have with this setup is that that money shows up on our W-2 as money earned. And if you have 2 or even 3 kids going to school, thats an extra $60kish that your "makeing", when your really not. And now with the new tax laws out this extra "money" will push some of our guys well into the $150K + tax bracket and they get hit very heavly. We actually had one guy quit because he had 3 kids going to DODDS school and was makeing less after taxes than he was in the military. Had another guy get promoted and after taxes was making less than before his promotion.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Man, that sounds terrible. Education benefits for kids shouldn't be counted towards income, IMO, after hearing this.

Harsh.

[DougP]

Wow man thanks for that info :hollycrap: That sucks on a few levels. Wish there was a better way to take care of things.:(

[Tempestuous]

The only real problem that we have with this setup is that that money shows up on our W-2 as money earned. And if you have 2 or even 3 kids going to school, thats an extra $60kish that your "makeing", when your really not. And now with the new tax laws out this extra "money" will push some of our guys well into the $150K + tax bracket and they get hit very heavly. We actually had one guy quit because he had 3 kids going to DODDS school and was makeing less after taxes than he was in the military. Had another guy get promoted and after taxes was making less than before his promotion.

Y-ouch! That hurts!
I can't believe that is taxable income.:thumbdown: Wonder if there is a loop-hole somewhere. Some sort of deduction or something?

[Ammoyankee]

And if you have 2 or even 3 kids going to school, thats an extra $60kish that your "makeing", when your really not. And now with the new tax laws out this extra "money" will push some of our guys well into the $150K + tax bracket and they get hit very heavly.

Wow, so some of the guys are only bringing in 90 grand? It must suck to be them...:scared:

[DoctorP]

Doug, I dont know why it costs so much.. but luckly my contract covers this. If you have kids at where I work, the army(round-a-bout throug our company) pays the tab. The only real problem that we have with this setup is that that money shows up on our W-2 as money earned. And if you have 2 or even 3 kids going to school, thats an extra $60kish that your "makeing", when your really not. And now with the new tax laws out this extra "money" will push some of our guys well into the $150K + tax bracket and they get hit very heavly. We actually had one guy quit because he had 3 kids going to DODDS school and was makeing less after taxes than he was in the military. Had another guy get promoted and after taxes was making less than before his promotion.


I think this is why you would have the cheaper option of OSCI right? Then you spend say $15k a year for all three kids.

I understand what you are saying about the W-2, but I'm pretty sure there is still a way for you to claim that money on your taxes. I do my own taxes, and I'm pretty sure there is a way for you to deduct those charges, but I am not a pro and would have to do some research.

[socalheart]

I think this is why you would have the cheaper option of OSCI right? Then you spend say $15k a year for all three kids.


We had a lot of American kids at OCSI in my day. Some were contractors' kids, had very religious parents or had been expelled from every other school on the island. Heh.

[Asshat]

And now with the new tax laws out this extra "money" will push some of our guys well into the $150K + tax bracket and they get hit very heavly.

Hey man...I am not a tax expert, but I have always done my own taxes.

The IRS would be hard pressed to prove why you couldn't deduct that from your income when you file. Sure, you will loose your standard deduction, but it would be worth it not to get in that high of a bracket.

[DougP]

Hey man...I am not a tax expert, but I have always done my own taxes.

The IRS would be hard pressed to prove why you couldn't deduct that from your income when you file. Sure, you will loose your standard deduction, but it would be worth it not to get in that high of a bracket.

The only problem I foresee in this is that you will actually have to prove these "costs" if you're going to do itemized deductions. If what I'm gathering from FD's post is correct then the extra money that is provided through the contract shows up with the other earnings in block 1 of the W2. I'm also gathering its not showing up in anyother block on the W2 as well.

Now although it shows that you are picking up an extra 17 grand per child per year on your W2 your are not the one who is paying the tuition directly. If you can somehow work out a deal with the school so they can draw up a receipt then it might be possible to claim such expenses. I'm guessing this isn't as easy as it sounds and that's why the people FD mentioned in his post were having such difficulties.

Its similar to a statement I used to get every year while I was in the military. This statement showed you what you actual income might look like reflecting all the benifits you were getting for free like medical and dental.
Basically it gave you an idea how much these extra services were worth.
Now if instead of sending you that "feel good about what you have" statement they tact it on to your wages, tips you'd be in an entirely different tax bracket. You would then be in the hurt locker.

All in all I'd like to look into this further myself. I might end up being employed in someway or another by the government again. That and my wife and I will more than likely have a couple of kids in the near future :)
I'd like to weigh out my possible options and know as much as possible before diving head first into something like sending our children to a DoDDS school.

[ryukyuboi]

Student (civilians) mass inspections/searches at school without a search warrant?

Before you treat someone as a criminal, don't you have to have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed? According to the news release, the searches are not based on any individualized suspicion of criminal behavior.

This borders on government anarchy.

I doubt if the DoDDS tuition would be increased as a result of these mass sweeps. The sweeps are being conducted by the US military.

[DoctorP]

The way I understood the article is that this inspection will be used to help train the inspectors for future inspections if necessary.

My biggest gripe about the inspections is why aren't the teachers being inspected as well? It's not like they have proven themselves to be law abiding citizens in the last year! Who knows...you may find pot in the teachers lounge!

[socalheart]

Who knows...you may find pot in the teachers lounge!
That explains why the teachers never let us kids into the teachers' lounge! Those teachers are so stingy with their stash. :rolleyes: (heh. joke.)

[DougP]

That explains why the teachers never let us kids into the teachers' lounge! Those teachers are so stingy with their stash. :rolleyes: (heh. joke.)

Oh but so true sometimes:D Actually a couple other people who went to DuDDs schools over here mention something about tylenol, insulin and other prescription meds not being allowed on campus.

[DoctorP]

...but SoCal...I wasn't joking! Seems to me that the credibility of the teachers is in question now...why should they be trusted? In the past year alone we have found a child molestor and a pot smoker! Ok...it may have been the same guy, but you see what I mean. Not to mention it is obvious his wife lied for him (or for her depending upon how you look at it).

[ryukyuboi]

Teachers are legal adults and constitutional laws apply. To conduct a search without reasonable cause, at any time, and without a proper search warrant, would be illegal. That is why teachers are not searched in these school sweeps. If the authorities believe they have a reasonable cause, and obtain a warrant, then a legal search could be conducted on a teacher or anyone else for that matter.

On the other hand, students, as legal minors, do not share the same constitutional rights as legal adults. Court decisions on the rights of students are mixed, but generally favor the rights of the government and not the individual student's rights.

[Tony Stacks]

Because DoDDS schools are for Military dependants free of charge not civilians. Civilians have to pay. It's only right because Civilians make more.

[Tony Stacks]

You are better sending your kid to Japanese school. japanese school is FAR better than American school.

[ryukyuboi]

Could you provide some specific information backing up your opinion, Tony?

[Tony Stacks]

When's the last time you heard a kid shoot up a Japanese school?
When's the last time you heard somebody bring a gun to Japanese school?
When's the lastime you heard of a stabbing or other violent crime in a Japanese school?
When's the last time you heard about bullies beating another kid up so bad that a kid dies in a Japanese school?
When is the last time you seen metal detectors and cops patrolling the halls of a Japanese school?
All this happens daily in American schools.

On a side note my son when he started pre-school spoke NO Japanese and now speaks fluent Japanese with-in only 2 months of going there and all the kids graduate that pre school knowing how to read and write.

I can go on but I think I proved my point.

American schools are NOT even close and are way out of the league of Japanese schools.

America sucks compared to Japan. Japan rules and I'm staying here forever!

[ryukyuboi]

And can you provide evidence that these incidents occur on a daily basis in a DoDDS school?

I don't think you have proved much of anything actually.

Are you under the impression that no problems exist in the Japanese school system?
http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/ijime.html

[socalheart]

You are better sending your kid to Japanese school. japanese school is FAR better than American school.
I didn't know that foreigners without Japanese children could send their children to Japanese schools now. It wasn't allowed when I was growing up here. At that time, foreign children had to go to private foreign schools here.

I think that most schools are similar everywhere in regards to the most basic needs for children. The quality of education, teachers, facilities and whatnot are important of course and do vary from country to country, and school to school on a lesser scale. Safety in schools varies between schools depending on local laws.

Children make up the quality of schools. Parents make up the quality of children. If a child wants to bully another child, he is going to do it with or without a weapon. If a child is going to help another child, he is going to do it. A nerdy child with undeveloped social skills who goes to a Japanese school has just as much a chance of getting bullied as if he attended a DODDS school.

[Tony Stacks]

And can you provide evidence that these incidents occur on a daily basis in a DoDDS school?

I don't think you have proved much of anything actually.

Are you under the impression that no problems exist in the Japanese school system?
http://www.bookmice.net/darkchilde/japan/ijime.html

I can't say DoDDS schools I don't know. I was comparing regular Public school to Japanese.

But explain my son's preschools and how he learned FLUENT japanese in 2months? The school system is doing something right.

[DoctorP]

I can't say DoDDS schools I don't know. I was comparing regular Public school to Japanese.

But explain my son's preschools and how he learned FLUENT japanese in 2months? The school system is doing something right.

The thread is about DoDDs schools, not regular public schools. You should have mentioned in your post that you were comparing public schools in the US.

Also, I doubt that your kid was FLUENT in only 2 months. Did he comprehend...perhaps, but not fluent!

[Tony Stacks]

Actually I was. I did'nt know that. I grew up in the hood so i've seen kids stabbed and worse at school. It's ashame that school has to be that way.