Science or Dual Language Elementary School???

Science is his passion but all sciences aren't created equally. I would go for the science program while exposing him to other languages on my own time. Like already mentioned PBS has tons of bilingual programming which includes spanish.

I would try for the science program. If he isn't looking forward to go to school already, this will be one thing to catch his attention and hopefully we will look forward to going since you already know its up his alley on what he likes.

From the opportunity to earn a living in the future and to give him a wonderful career choice, I'd go with the Science school.

If you can find something you like to do and can make a living at it, you'll never work a day in your life.

You may have a budding vetenarian on your hands. And if you really want him to learn a second language, there is always Rosetta Stone. My wife and I went to Kenya and I learned enough Swahili to be able to speak with our tour guide and bargain with some shop keepers after only a month of studying. Science is much more difficult and much more valuable for future careers.

Good luck to you and yours.

Go with science. For two reasons: The field is growing, so he'll definitely have career advantages if he pursues science...and because he can still learn a language if he so chooses.

Science is a language of its own...and since he already shows promise, I think you should nurture that.

Nurture his interests.
But yah, learning languages, is good as well.
Up until 13 years old, in a child this is the age when it is best learned and the brain is more adaptable and the synapses are developed.

I have 2 kids. I nurture their interests. But they are also multilingual now.
Their well rated public school, teaches them Japanese, Mandarin and Hawaiian and they have been exposed to my Hubby's language since birth as well as English.
But... the thing is, both my kids, LIKE learning other languages. It is not a chore.

The science program, sounds great for your son.

I'd go with science.

Even though you don't know any Spanish, there are SO many resources you can use to teach him on your own - Diego, Dora and Handy Manny shows come to mind, PBS interjects alot of Spanish in their programming, most children's book sections have dual languge kids books, our library has a whole section with them. There are alot of translation sites you can use to type in a common phrase like "brush your teeth" or "its time to eat" or "lets go outside". Learn a new common phrase every day/week.

gl!

The science school. Because his love for creatures and being outside will be embraced there. And because your son will discover that learning is fun which should set the stage for him to learn many subjects throughout his lifetime.

science school....that is one of the best fields, math & science skills are highly needed in the workforce

I would go with the science school, at least you can help him to have a passion for learning. You can always put him in outside language classes, like where I live they have spanish classes for little ones. Maybe try that? Good luck!

Go with where his interests lie - try for science.
If he's not thrilled about school in the first place and then not thrilled about the subject (language), he's going to have a difficult time and is going to just hate getting up every morning and everyone is going to be miserable.

I think that is is very important for children, as well as adults, to pursue their passions and interests. If he does what he loves, he will naturally succeed. How many people do you know who are great at what they do, but miserable doing it? Their should be excitement and joy in learning and you will take immense pride in watching him learn something he truly loves. But this is coming from someone who truly embraces the Montessori method of learning:)

Go for the science school!!! You need to nurture his interest! What is so bad about being a scientists? My cousin is and he makes grip!!! I vote science or apply for both and if he gets accepted for both then choose the science one.

JMO.....good luck!

SCIENCE!!!!
Having a good foundation in science is HUGE.
Giving him this chance is something he obviously loves will be much better for him than throwing him into a program that is just for his advancement.

You will not loose either way you go. I can see arguments either way. But having a son that excels in science and has wanted to work with animals since he was little and is almost 13 and still does I would say go with scince. As parents it's best to nurture thier passions when ever possible.

Good luck and God Bless.

i vote for the science one. School needs to be fun for children to learn. You can always do spanish on the side as a mommy and kid thing but the science school sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity for him.

We are in a similar situation right now. My son has an extreme aptitude and affinity for numbers, and a lot of people are telling me to put him in a math magnet school. We also have language schools. I was torn about whether to apply for either or both, but I started thinking about what my primary goals for my children's education are.

I know many people will disagree with me, but my husband and I had agreed from the beginning that one of the most important things to us is to give our children a stable group of friends. Both my husband and I jumped around from school to school, and as a result, we don't have a close-knit group of friends. Of course, I love the friends I have made as an adult, but there is something different about being with people that I've known all my life. We want to give that to our children.

The problem with both the schools I have mentioned is that they do not feed into one high school. Which means that after they have completed the entire program (K-8) of these schools, all the kids go to different high schools. I've been in that situation, and it was difficult for me. I think I would have been much happier in high school if I hadn't had to start from scratch with my friends.

My children are extremely bright. I have no doubt that they will excel academically wherever we put them. Even if the school itself doesn't offer everything we would want for them academically, it is far easier for us to supplement that than to manufacture a social group that will be with them all their lives.

My friends who have their children in language schools say that teaching their child another language is a gift they are giving their kids. I agree that it is a gift, but I feel that lifelong friendships - or at least the opportunity to make them - is going to be a gift that will stand my children in much better stead.

Another consideration: Your son loves science NOW, but is it really fair to lock a school-aged child into something that interests a preschooler? He may always love science - I hope he does - but he may not. I kind of feel that it may be better to not make his joy a chore. He will still have exposure to science at any school you send him without the additional pressure of being in a school that specializes in it.

All that being said, I guess I would advise you to look beyond the current school and to see what the options are for post-elementary education. Good luck! Choice certainly is a double-edged sword. It's nice to have options, but it's definitely more pressure to make the right decision.

Put him in the school with the science program. That is what he loves. He could be the next great scientist!! He can ALWAYS learn a language in Middle school or even High school---like we did growing up. You want to keep his interests in mind. If he already doesn't like school, then he must be put in a place that he is interested in.
C.

I'd personally do the language choice - mainly because it's easier to teach your child to explore science at home (trips to a planetarium, science shows, at home experiments, etc) than it is to teach your child a second language when you don't know one yourself.