Tue, 29 May 2012
| Index | Last | Var.(%) |
|---|---|---|
| BEL 20 | 2117.66 | -0.08 |
| DAX | 6323.19 | -0.26 |
| IBEX 30 | 6401.2 | -2.17 |
| CAC 40 | 3042.97 | -0.16 |
| FTSE 100 | 5356.34 | 0.09 |
| AEX | 292.76 | 0.00 |
| DJIA | 12454.83 | -0.60 |
| Nasdaq | 2837.53 | -0.07 |
| FTSE MIB | 13057.26 | -0.74 |
| TSX Composite | 11566.15 | -0.09 |
| ASX | 4120.2 | 0.96 |
| Hang seng | 18800.99 | 0.47 |
| Straits Times | 2787.22 | 0.52 |
| ISEQ 20 | 501.76 | 0.16 |
Text size
American expat Eric Asp is not sure if he is impressed or revolted by the sheer intricacies of Dutch bureaucracy he finds himself inadvertently bound up in after simply asking for permission to have his six-year-old son miss the last seven weeks of kindergarten.
I had a meeting at ten this morning with a city official to process our family's request for our son to miss the last seven weeks of kindergarten, in order to accommodate for an employer-required three-month "home service leave" (a.k.a. furlough) that cannot but result in some school being missed, since the Dutch summer vacation is only six weeks long. The job title of the man with whom I met was leerplichtambtenaar, which -- I am not making this up -- can be very literally translated as "compulsory education bureaucrat."
Truthfully, I was expecting a fifteen-minute ‘rubber stamp’ type meeting -- more or less automatically approving our request (since the teachers and administrators at Elliot's school haven't expressed any concern about our plans, and since -- seriously -- we're talking about a six-year-old missing a seven-week stretch of kindergarten!).
I have to arrange for professional translation of GCM employment policies (as they relate to home service leave). I have to fill out a detailed schedule of my travel plans for the summer (preferably with visual aids, i.e. maps, to help contextualise and inform of the necessity of an extended period of leave). I have to write out a detailed education plan for Elliot, explaining how we will continue to prioritise our son's education while missing school in the Netherlands. I have to provide extra employment documents (my work contract, the mission statement of GCM, a letter from GCM headquarters explaining the intent of a home service leave and the necessity of including the entire family for the entire duration of the home service leave) -- all professionally translated into Dutch by an government-sanctioned translation business. It's crazy!
26 February 2008
Eric Asp is an American videographer/writer/pastor living in Amsterdam, together with his wife and three children. His casual and critical observations on life, love, and faith can be found on-line at www.ericasp.com.
[Copyright Eric Asp 2008]
very interesting !!! i am also planning to take my kid for longer vacation , but after hearing this, i am in doubt.
I ignored the rules and did as I please, but this was 20 years ago and the Government was much more understanding of Americans back then. Lets be honest, a child missing education in kindergarden by missing 7 weeks, stupid if you ask me.
BTW my children both went to universities here in spite of their missing weeks of school, my daughter when tested was the 10th highest Physics score in the country for a girl, in her last year of high school.
The Dutch Government just love to stick their nose in everyones business, and then tell them how to live, it makes the Govt. feel needed. What a joke.
Totally nuts.
Incredible. As in "I can't believe this". But then again, I guess I can, given my experiences here.
What are they going to do if you just ignore them and go? Kick him out of kindergarten? Seriously.
Quite hypocritical really when the current news tells us there are not enough teachers to go around in Holland, and chidlren are made to go to school even when there is no teacher available for them.
I'm pleased Holland seems to be taking education seriously, but we all know the reality is quite different and this seems to be yet another of the Dutch red-tape items which is all hot-air. I also find it quite surprising that indeed, the parents are not allowed to make this decision on behalf of their family/child. I find it reasonable to have the school/teacher involved in the process (making sure they know, checking the child will not miss too much, taking 'homework' if the teacher thinks it appropriate) but come on - spending our tax money on all of this - where is the balance?!?!
in my experience here, this is not surprising in the least. this country is a joke as it pertains to government, service, quality of goods, etc. people are rude, snobby, arrogant, and generally slow thinking. i would sure like some accounting of this bogus 19% v.a.t. !!!
Sure, why not just let any kid miss 6 weeks of school for any reason whatsoever? Six weeks of school at the wrong period could be disastrous. A kid could miss long division, an entire subject in history class, or some critical concept in science or language. Expecting to be treated specially because your kid is "only" in kindergarten, you're an american, or you're a pastor is a bit silly if you ask me. I'm glad the Dutch are looking after your kid's education!
very interesting !!! i am also planning to take my kid for longer vacation , but after hearing this, i am in doubt.
I ignored the rules and did as I please, but this was 20 years ago and the Government was much more understanding of Americans back then. Lets be honest, a child missing education in kindergarden by missing 7 weeks, stupid if you ask me.
BTW my children both went to universities here in spite of their missing weeks of school, my daughter when tested was the 10th highest Physics score in the country for a girl, in her last year of high school.
The Dutch Government just love to stick their nose in everyones business, and then tell them how to live, it makes the Govt. feel needed. What a joke.
Totally nuts.
Incredible. As in "I can't believe this". But then again, I guess I can, given my experiences here.
What are they going to do if you just ignore them and go? Kick him out of kindergarten? Seriously.
Quite hypocritical really when the current news tells us there are not enough teachers to go around in Holland, and chidlren are made to go to school even when there is no teacher available for them.
I'm pleased Holland seems to be taking education seriously, but we all know the reality is quite different and this seems to be yet another of the Dutch red-tape items which is all hot-air. I also find it quite surprising that indeed, the parents are not allowed to make this decision on behalf of their family/child. I find it reasonable to have the school/teacher involved in the process (making sure they know, checking the child will not miss too much, taking 'homework' if the teacher thinks it appropriate) but come on - spending our tax money on all of this - where is the balance?!?!
in my experience here, this is not surprising in the least. this country is a joke as it pertains to government, service, quality of goods, etc. people are rude, snobby, arrogant, and generally slow thinking. i would sure like some accounting of this bogus 19% v.a.t. !!!
Sure, why not just let any kid miss 6 weeks of school for any reason whatsoever? Six weeks of school at the wrong period could be disastrous. A kid could miss long division, an entire subject in history class, or some critical concept in science or language. Expecting to be treated specially because your kid is "only" in kindergarten, you're an american, or you're a pastor is a bit silly if you ask me. I'm glad the Dutch are looking after your kid's education!
A guide to telephone, internet and television along with utility services water, electricity and gas in the Netherlands.
Lost in the Dutch immigration system? Look no further than this guide compiled for our Survival Guide 2012.
Expatica offers a whistle-stop tour of life in the modern Netherlands.
The challenges and benefits of the maternity system in the Netherlands and how it differs to other countries.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Google+
7
