SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

My mother was my primary caretaker in my childhood as she was not employed outside of the home until my Sophomore year of high school.   However, we lived in Brazil and always had housekeepers who also doubled as babysitters when my mother needed one.

I attended Brazilian schools until 4th grade.  Then we were coming to the U.S. so my other pulled all 5 of us out of school and homeschooled us primarily in English reading and grammar. When we came here I did half of 5th grade in Illinois and half in Indiana.  During this time I realized that my Brazilian schools were more advanced.  In Brazil I had learned things in 2nd and 3rd grade they were teaching in 5th grade here.

When we returned to Brazil, my mother enrolled us in a private American school that was a Christian school and primarily missionary kids attended there.  There were also some Brazilians whose parents wanted them to attend an American school.  There were a lot of Canadians there.  I attended there from 6th through 8th grade and they were some of the best years of my life.  I was always  academically gifted and made friends with others who also were and we had fun
competing for the highest grades.  We had excellent teachers and just a great atmosphere in the school. I bawled my eyes out when my parents announced we were moving back to the U.S.

I have mentioned in previous blogs about the high school I attended in Baton Rouge,  Louisiana.  it really was horrible and I can't believe I survived it.   Nevertheless, I was able to graduate with honors and go on to college.  I think my life would have turned out so different for the better if I had stayed at the American school in Brazil.

Adding to my previous posts, I understand that not every child gets to have a quality education.