Sandrahobson

I know there have been many posts on the new AFNOR standards and what is required, but does anyone have any news on who will be enforcing the legislation? Many thanks Sandra

I know there have been many posts on the new AFNOR standards and what is required, but does anyone have any news on who will be enforcing the legislation? Many thanks Sandra

There is one in our village 14th Feb. Haven't a clue what this is - should we go, will it be fun? (BTW, did check dictionnary but it just said 'game'). Thanks for all information Sandra

My younger daugher came home with a letter from her teacher today telling me that after witnessing the dissection of a rabbits heart, and then being invited to touch it, my daugther had been sick...oh dear. My daughter is 9. Is this standard practice as part of the biology curriculum in France? I seem to remember a biology lesson when I was around 13, that involved dissecting a rat. I just thought that perhaps at age 9 it was a little young. I think that having 3 pet rabbits may not have encouraged her to benefit from this particular experience. What other delights should my 9 yr old being looking forward to in science....what does the curriculum offer in terms of human reproduction? Best wishes Sandra

I have a letter telling me that my daughter will be having a 'bilan de sante' in a couple of weeks time. It is imperative she takes her Carnet de Sante with her....being English we don't possess this item....what do I need in its place? I have her old 'red' book that covered baby to toddler type stuff and also a copy of her vaccination records from our UK GP, but that's all. Any advice, information gratefully received as ever. Thanks Sandra Ps: Does anyone know how detailed this health check is? It's just that my daughter is nearly 13 and not yet fluent in French, I don't want her to feel uncomfortable or embaressed. Should I ask to attend? Is this the done thing? Thanks again.

I don't know if anyone has already come across this site, but my husband has just told me he has found the new regs in English here and also other useful info at the following web address: www.saferpools.co.uk/decree.htm - so sorry, I don't know how to to make this a link....but I do hope it helps. Please let me know what you think as this whole issue seems to be getting more and more confusing. Any help we can offer each other has to be a bonus. Kind regards Sandra

I don't know if anyone has already come across this site, but my husband has just told me he has found the new regs in English here and also other useful info at the following web address: www.saferpools.co.uk/decree.htm - so sorry, I don't know how to to make this a link....but I do hope it helps. Please let me know what you think as this whole issue seems to be getting more and more confusing. Any help we can offer each other has to be a bonus. Kind regards Sandra

I would be grateful for views\experience on taking bookings for one or two weeks during the July\August period. We would prefer to take only two week bookings during these months, but I have an influx of enquiries for one week only. Hindsight being what it is we should have made this v clear in our advertising - I plan to contact the relevant websites tomorrow, but in the meantime, wondered if anyone could give me their words of wisdom.....I am, at the moment, happy to take bookings for one week only in the low\mid season, again, is this common. The only experience I have to date is for one\two\three night weekend bookings when we ran our hotel - same sort of problem occurred there, do you accept one or two nights or implement a policy of max night bookings only.... Thank you very much in advance Kind regards Sandra

I am in need of advice please. The last time I read anything literary in French was back in the late 80', since then it has been text book stuff whilst in formal education, plus newspapers, weekly journals etc, and more recently our regional paper to get myself back into the habit. I also read the school books the children bring home. I would like very much to start reading 'proper' French novels again, but don't know where to start. Can anyone offer advice please? I am an avid reader but don't want to launch into anything too 'heavy'. Many thanks in advance Sandra

I read the education forum alot, contribute some, have found the paradox thread fascinating, but I am not sufficiently knowledgeable to add anthing of value. My education concern is this: I have 3 children, 6,10, 13 this year. When in the UK I worried like mad about the state of the system there, consequently, I supported, encouraged and researched, read stories every night, monitored homework, encouraged thought provoking conversation, independent thought, opinions, youn name it.... The children are all v different, so I tried to work on their strengths and give extra support where needed....problem is, I find all of this hard to reconcile with my own experience many moons ago (I am in late 30's), when I went to local state Comp' no one seemed to worry about anything I have mentioned, still less was I coached, encouraged overly, monitored, I just got on....did well enough, but was still first member of my family to make it to 'degree' level. Now, with my own children, I feel as if it has all changed. Expectations are vastly increased, or so it seems to me, the pressure appears to be as much on the parents to make 'the right choices' as on the children to 'perform'. In the little time we have been in France, I have noticed that it feels no different....the same routines, all the same expectations, tests, reports, little time to appreciate the individual, to enjoy the process of learning. Not that I am criticising either system particularly, perhaps more that the world we bring our children into has changed quite profoundly, that their happiness and well-being is no longer enough, that they must attain certain grades\levels at such young ages, and that these go some way to determining their future opportunities and potential, all fine if they are academically inclined, but when one isn't, how do they fit in, how do they achieve? This is possibly rather a woolly point, if so, apologies all round, but having read the thought provoking material on the 'Paradox' thread, it made me wonder how other run-of-the-mill parents feel....lost, bothered, inadequate, happy, loving-it, carefree.....in the case of the latter, can you send me step-by-step guide. Thanks for any thoughts Sandra

Have many of you received the forms\information from school concerning the nationwide debate now underway in France? All 3 of my children have brought these home. We have also been invited to meetings at the school, in one case a days seminar, and further meetings outside school, I believe, under the management of the Mairie. Sadly, I don't feel able to take part 'officially' so to speak as the children have only been in school 8 weeks or so and would find it difficult to make constructive comment so soon after arriving, having said that, there are a number of observations I would like to make, perhaps informally.... I ask the question, as there seem to be so many people on the LF Forum with an interest or view and also experience in this area, and also as a follow up to a commnent made by Mistral in the 'paradox' thread: "there is always long discussion about how the school day could be changed around and then nothing happens..." Is this the likely outcome of the national debate do you think, or is real change afoot? Thanks Sandra

Bon Soir Can anyone out there offer some advice as to suitable software to help children with their french? I have got the Attica catalogue and this has a big selection but since it is aimed at teaching professionals I am finding it a bit tough. What I would really like is something that will help boost their conversation and supplement school work. All 3 children are v computer friendly and will happily spend a long time on the Pc so I thought I would capitalise on this, but with what software!? Thanks in anticipation Sandra

Until today I have not been told by any of our children about physical punishment in class, however, my 9 yr old daughter came home quite distressed as the replacement teacher her class has had this week, had physically removed two 9 yr old boys from their chairs by the collar and then proceeded to literally bang their heads together and then throw them back into their chairs. My daughter said they were crying for a long time after and were frightened. Their crime so-to-speak, had been to continue messing around with rubbers\pencils having already been told to stop - annoying I am sure, but did it warrant this punishment? I am a strong supporter of good standards of discipline in schools but am not at all sure about this type of behaviour from a teacher, what guidelines if any exist in relation to corporal punishment in schools here, does it differ for the varying age groups? If this had happened to my child I would have been taking matters further. Any comments, similar experiences? Thanks Sandra

This is a sort of follow on from the earlier thread re Restaurant Etiquette...all of which most interesting and useful (I too born in Surrey but with Northern parents and taught the 6 o'clock cutlery position!) Our 3 children, all at school here since Sept come home from their day with interesting observations on their classmates table manners, since I am termed by my offspring to be a real 'stickler' for table manners, they are delighted to regale me with what they see as 'not the done thing', for example, spreading ones croissant liberally with pate at breakfast and then dipping it in hot chocolate, followed by (this observed by my 5 yr old son), quote: 'but Mummy, he was actually DRINKING his soup out of the bowl AND in front of everyone in the cantine'....from my 12 yr old daughter the following: ' I don't beleive this myth that the french eat a healthy diet Mummy, they have actual slices of butter on their baguette at breakfast and then at least half a jar of jam on top of that!' , okay I realise you need to allow for 12 yr old exaggeration, but even so I took her point. There is plenty more, the children seem to especially enjoy the stories about picking up bones from the plate and 'gnawing' at them until they are clean - 'but Mummy we would never (be allowed)do that in England (in public)'....as you might imagine, we have plenty of conversations about different cultures etc and how the french are world-renowned for their deep love of food, and how 'good' manners are different depending on where you are in the world, but somehow I feel the children have spotted a way to target their nagging Mum over the issue of manners whilst at the table. Strange too that they are happy to observe the eating habits\manners of others and take great pleasure in recounting these to me, in expectation of some kind of feinting fit, but they convientiently still forget to remove elbows from table and to close mouth whilst still eating! Is there anyone else out there who has had similar experiences who could offer any advice!

Hello All Have read so much about education ups and downs over past yr, but am actually now here & doing it with the3 kids for real. It's hard, but so far am impressed. Our 3 are all at different schools, Teddy aged 5 at Maternelle, Vic at Primaire and Bob at College. After only 4 wks of school and v little french Bob (age 12 )was off to Brittany for 3 day trip. How I worried for her and indeed how I worry for them each and every day, BUT, all the staff and the MAJORITY of the pupils are v helpful and supportive and already Bob is having 3 extra hrs of french tuition per week to get her up to scratch and that is after her only bein enrolled for 5 wks, and being the only 'anglaise' in her year. What can I say - I am most impressed and couldn't ask for more help or support, but, and there is a BUT, whilst all 3 children are working hard and doing well, they all miss their UK friends SO much and we seem to be having a 'homesickness' time right now and as 'Mum', I am finding it very hard going emotionally. I know they still miss their UK friends etc, so do I and it IS early days, but how my heart strings are pulled when the occasional tear falls, and how hard is it not to cry too!! I would be v grateful for ANY advice on how the rest of you got thro' this stage and what the outcome has been. Don't get me wrong here, we are doing okay after v rough yr, but even so some words of support would be welcome....i do speak reasonable french, but still not enough to convey the needs of the chilren for their social life, their easy chat, nor the fact that whilst I recognise it will come in time, it's so hard to get children to appreciate that and also how do I overcome the feeling of 'it' my fault', 'I am putting them thro' this...', okay, I know, Mother's guilt trip time, but surely I am not alone here!!!! Thanks in advance, all advice gratefully received!!!!!!!!!!