Hello! Moving to Dumaguete for good and I am looking for progressive elementary schools. By that, I mean schools that are not religion-focused and wherein the emphasis is on the quality of education. Also, second requirement is that the language of instruction should be in English. Best if they're around the areas of Bacong and Dauin. Appreciate any help, thank you!
Take a look through the forum using the search. There are a lot of threads. There are a lot of different sorts of schools here. Here's a list from Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_schools_in_Dumaguete If I had a kid here, I would probably just take the kid into each school (of those which are on your list of acceptable options) and have the kid pick the place. You might also see if you can talk to instructors. From my elementary through (some) college, I only ever remembered my best instructors. The biggest name professors don't do much for your education if they can't teach well. There are diamonds in the rough. Maybe look in Facebook for groups formed around schools or education in Dumaguete in general. Don't totally write off the religious schools. I helped put a group of kids through St Paul, Silliman and Foundation and the kids didn't turn out brainwashed. Schools like Foundation and Silliman have classes for kids all the way up through college. Silliman is also considered one of the best schools here.
Did a search prior to starting this thread and I felt like none of them really answered my concern-- regarding the school being "progressive". I also had the same list from Wikipedia and had been going through them one by one. I figured it'd be best to hear what the locals have to say, or those who have kids already enrolled in these schools. Right now I am leaning towards Foundation U, as it is a nonsectarian school. I've also heard good things about Holy Cross High School. Then I have Siliman as my third choice-- this school seems to be the most popular choice, according to what I've read so far. I myself came from a Catholic school and I turned out okay too, lol. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, appreciate it very much!
Take a walk through the campus. I have been there for attending to kids' things. I felt at home there. The campus looked like it could have been one of the elementary schools I have attended back home. I went to a couple of shows which were entertaining and well put together. There are signs on campus which say "English only." Listen as you walk by the kids and you'll likely hear them speaking like they were kids in the US.
My daughter attended Silliman for several years, before she wanted to move to another. She attended St. Paul and had a much better learning experience, and the students and teachers care much more about their campus. She didn't feel indoctrinated, although, they do teach Catholic religion. She was Catholic, so, even though that was her least favorite part of school, it made it easier. I can't reiterate enough, though, she was much happier there than at Silliman, and she often said she wished she had always attended St. Paul. We originally chose Silliman because family and friends insisted it was the best.
Your second choice of Holy Cross High school defo do not fall under non-religious. They are run by Catholic nuns. Well they used to, unless that changed.
If you have mucho $, One International School in Dauin (UK school system) will meet or exceed your criteria. My son went to preschool there which gave him a great preparation for Don Bosco school.
My ASAWA attended Foundation high school and collage. After arriving in Alaska had her degree translated at the request of UAA. It came back as (better than) a 4 year degree in "Business Administration/Management". The last 15 years in Alaska she made a lot more money than I, with some VERY good benefits. We believe her education to have been a very good investment that has served her very well over the 32 years we have been together. We sent a non relative to her first year at St Paul. She was unable to keep her grades up and we withdrew out financial support, after that first year. She attended Valencia school through high school. I firmly believe that she was simply NOT prepared for collage. Several relative through Catherina Cittadini School with very good results, it is a Catholic school and they do a very good job at teaching.
My step daughter is at Catherina Cittadini going into Year 3 and we are very happy with the teaching, the nurturing and caring attitude of all involved there. BUT be well warned this is a VERY CATHOLIC school where religious teaching is a big and important part of the curriculum and life there and if that doesn't suit you suggest you look elsewhere. Also the school stops at year 10 so we will have to make alternate plans for the final 2 years of school. Most either go to Silliman or to St Paul and apparently perform very well at both when they move. Obviously we will consider close to time based on research at the time and advice from the teachers at the school. I think The Dude's suggestion is an excellent one. Walk through, get a feel try to talk to some parents of the kids at each school and hopefully you will find a good fit.
My parents sent me to an elementary school that was partially public that had nuns teaching. Having nuns as teachers turned me away from religion more than any other experience in my life. Some of the cruelest people I have ever met in my life. What a lot of them did was downright criminal behavior. If they weren't wearing that stupid outfit and protected by the church they would have been locked up. (Obviously not all of them, but a much higher percentage than the regular teachers I had.)