Preschool English Teacher?

There is a new private school here. It is really nice, kind of state of the art for here. It is preschool from three years old and up to fourth grade. They have really nice classrooms and building. They put in radiant floor heat and nice bathrooms for both the preschool and elementary school. They imported all of the school supplies so they are very good quality. They will also teach English and Russian there. They have been advertising on TV. Much different than our neighborhood school, which is in a ger/yurt!

This is interesting though- school starts next week and they have NO TEACHERS. No preschool teachers, no elementary teachers, no Russian teacher and no English teacher!!! It is not that strange in Mongolian customs. They are looking this week for teachers, while they are taking enrollment and finishing the building.

I have wanted to put the children in some type of school a few mornings a week, but also be on campus, so that I am with them. So I went and toured the school with Enkee and Ariunna. Enkee immediately enrolled her daughter Ariuka who will be starting first grade, because it is such a nice school.

Well, the moment they see me, they think, "Oh, she is coming to teach English." So we toured the rooms. They want me to teach 12 hours a week, which is not a possibility for me with regular cooking, cleaning, washing, and homeschooling. Then they say, "OK 10 hours a week." I am worried. I cannot make this kind of commitment to the school. They have enrollment and have promised English instruction. It is not a flexible position. If my kids are sick I cannot commit to be there. So we talk back and forth. They agree on six hours a week 3 mornings a week. We tell them we'll let them know.

It would be nice if it worked out. If both kids like it and make friends and learn to speak Mongolian, and we all have somewhere to go in the winter it would be a great solution. BUT that is a long shot! It is not like preschool. It is more like daycare and not too interesting. The morning hours will probably be filled with eating breakfast and drinking tea, washing their hands, brushing their teeth, and maybe some play time. It is not the same as what one would expect from a US preschool. So if my kids don't like it, I won't make them go. They can always wash their hands here! ;)

So we talk. I am worried because the director of the school is not one to take no for an answer. I am not good at saying no. Everything is so up in the air, they don't even have books yet. I DO NOT want to make up curriculum for six classes. My kids may not like the school experience and if they don't I can't continue to teach. I don't want them to be counting on only me, since my first job is to take care of my family and homeschool.

Sierra would be in the 3 year old class and Weston would be in the 4-5 year old class. Just because the building is nice doesn't mean the education will be good. I can't be sure who their teachers will be and if they are gentle kind of teachers or not. Their teachers would not speak English and so it is tiring for them to have our kids in their class. Weston is getting easier and more social, but Sierra is still so small and really just wants her way.

I feel too conflicted to say yes, so I said no. I'm sure this is not the end because they really need a teacher, but I am not the teacher they need, for now I am just a mom.

The day before school starts, I'm sure they'll be asking again. :)