topic Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School in Community Chat

New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

fortune — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:47:29 GMT

My next door neighbor, who is Korean, just rented part of her townhouse to a mother, father, and three school-aged children. The family doesn't have a car, and the father doesn't work. The 3 school-age children don't attend school. As far as I know, no one speaks English, including the landlord. I asked the neighborhood children if they knew why the children weren't in school, and they said they were being home-schooled.

This sounded rather odd to me, because the parents don't speak English. Are they being home-schooled in Korean? What should I do, if anything? What are the rules on school attendance?

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

NativeJax — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:49:45 GMT

You could call the school board and ask questions to help with your decision.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

MyGirlsMom — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:53:20 GMT

I don't believe you know everything there is to know about your new neighbors unless you have cameras in and outside the house.

Koreans are very much a pro education society, wanting the best for their children.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

jaxs mom — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:53:59 GMT

I wouldn't do anything. Homeschooling isn't illegal in the US. In some states there isn't a requirement to file any paperwork or notify anyone if you are homeschooling.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

NativeJax — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:57:35 GMT

@fortune:
You do what you feel is right, if it turns out there is nothing wrong then you have peace of mind and there is no harm no foul.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

fortune — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:58:16 GMT

@JAXS Mom wrote:
I wouldn't do anything. Homeschooling isn't illegal in the US. In some states there isn't a requirement to file any paperwork or notify anyone if you are homeschooling.

Yes, but no one speaks English. How would they home school?

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

ritasNo1Fan — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 00:59:24 GMT

Don't do anything. (I love Korean food.)

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

Q4u — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:00:43 GMT

I agree to not do anything. You don't know the husband isn't working, there are a lot of opportunities to make a living on the Internet. Just because he's home doesn't mean he isn't employed. Home-Schooling is a viable option for most parents, even those who don't speak Engish. As a matter of fact, I agree 100% regarding the Korean/Oriental attitude towards education. Not only are they pro-education, they excel at it (even in their own language!)

So, unless you see one of the parents beating the kids I would definitely stay out of it. There are too many variables involved of which you have no knowledge......

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

June222 — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:01:39 GMT

I think you need a hobby...why stir up trouble? You say they just rented the place....and you are already keeping tabs on them? Why not bake a cake and take it over and introduce yourself to them?....you might just get your questions answered.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

January121 — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:02:47 GMT

@fortune wrote:
My next door neighbor, who is Korean, just rented part of her townhouse to a mother, father, and three school-aged children. The family doesn't have a car, and the father doesn't work. The 3 school-age children don't attend school. As far as I know, no one speaks English, including the landlord. I asked the neighborhood children if they knew why the children weren't in school, and they said they were being home-schooled.

This sounded rather odd to me, because the parents don't speak English. Are they being home-schooled in Korean? What should I do, if anything? What are the rules on school attendance?

If the townhouse certificate of occupancy has it listed as a 1 family residence it cannot be rented to another family while the owner also lives there ... she is making it a 2 family house & that would be illegal .... maybe they are part of her family because if no one works how are they paying rent???? ..... because none of them speak English perhaps they don't know that it's illegal?

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

RoughDraft — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:03:10 GMT

They might all be using Rosetta Stone...you know, learning together.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

sunshine45 — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:05:37 GMT

@fortune

you stated "as far as i know they dont speak english." how do you "know" that?

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

NativeJax — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:06:32 GMT

I totally disagree. What a stereo typical thing to say or assume that all Koreans are one way. I find it odd they wouldn't have their children in school. If they are breaking no laws so be it but you could call to find out the law first. You have no idea what the situation could be, maybe they need help in knowing how to register their children. I work in education and have had students who want to attend our program but didn't have the right paperwork because their parents were illegal.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

Q4u — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:06:38 GMT

@fortune wrote:
@JAXS Mom wrote:
I wouldn't do anything. Homeschooling isn't illegal in the US. In some states there isn't a requirement to file any paperwork or notify anyone if you are homeschooling.
Yes, but no one speaks English. How would they home school?

Easy.... they would home school in their own language! Do you know if they have Korean books? I'm guessing they do! Not hard to teach reading... learn to read in their own language first, then move on to translate the language later on after they've had a chance to emerse themselves in English. Also not hard to teach math or other subjects..

As I said, to many variables that are unknown to report them for anything....

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

MyGirlsMom — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:07:54 GMT

@fortune wrote:
@JAXS Mom wrote:
I wouldn't do anything. Homeschooling isn't illegal in the US. In some states there isn't a requirement to file any paperwork or notify anyone if you are homeschooling.
Yes, but no one speaks English. How would they home school?

They could be attending a CYBER school via the computer and learning English.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

NativeJax — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:10:17 GMT

I do like June's idea, just do something neighborly and you might get some answers, make new friends and maybe it will just be something simple like that.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

jaxs mom — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:12:08 GMT

@fortune wrote:
@JAXS Mom wrote:
I wouldn't do anything. Homeschooling isn't illegal in the US. In some states there isn't a requirement to file any paperwork or notify anyone if you are homeschooling.
Yes, but no one speaks English. How would they home school?

Obviously in whatever language they speak. You have no idea why or how long they are in the US or what their legal status is. For all you know they are here on a temporary visa for a variety of reasons and compulsory education laws may not apply. Homeschool laws vary by state as do the actual ages of compulsory attendance. As long as the kids are clean, fed and otherwise cared for I wouldn't get involved.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

RoughDraft — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:14:26 GMT

Or you could use your spare time and learn Korean. By that time the children might be in college.

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

Maudelynn — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:18:18 GMT

Maybe they're in the federal witness protection program.....

Re: New Neighbors Children Aren't in School

ROMARY — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 01:18:25 GMT

I've never thought about it, but now that I am, perhaps it's ok for children to not speak English. I mean, maybe there aren't any laws which require them to. Just thinking, and obviously I don't know.