We lived on island (STT) for two years with 3 kids

Hello? I thought that was my point to begin with......that while the pink bubble lovers want to believe they are moving to a utopian paradise, they may encounter ugliness along the way, including racism, perhaps directed at their children. I didn't say it was right, I said it happens. Actually, MY point was that Zeenzeen was trying to make a point with an experience that is a wee bit outdated. The world ain't a nice place - not on the mainland, not on an island, not on the North Pole.....and if you convince yourself that everyone lives in peace and harmony on an island and all cultures and colors are embraced because of island time and "no worries, mon" and because mankind has evolved ........well, you've just told yourself something that simply is not true and may never be true. You may as well wrap yourself in bubble wrap and mail yourself to the moon.......there's no place on this earth that doesn't have racism.

I agree Becky, that was an ugly racist remark. So was the one made to me. I think my reaction was due to that I have always been the new kid on the block. I was a 90 lb white female bussed to an all black school in South Carolina when I was 14. Yes, I learned to fight real quick. I think the hardest thing for whites coming to the islands is being a minority. It is very unsettling. However, that has been my only negative experience so far. Oh, except the homeless guy who walks around in camis with a big stick yelling at all the whiteys to go home. I know you've all seen him. Reminds me of a guy that stands in front of the White House in DC yelling that he is going to kill all the f-ing japs every time he sees an asian. See ya when you come to visit Dan. Have a good day.
Tammy

Well Tammy you have completely baffled me I dont understand someone that thinks the way you do so we will have to agree to disagree. But I do believe you missed my point as well.

Has anyone seen statistics on the college acceptance rate for public high school graduates from the USVI? And USVI graduates in general? Going to check with the Dept. of Education but wanted to see if anyone had anything.

Immigration & Race were mentioned and I wanted to add some info. There have been statesiders moving to the USVI with intentions to stay permanently & seasonally and immigration from other places in various levels from early on. The population of the USVI, according to the last census, was 66.8% native born. In terms of the population's parents, just around 26% were native born. Most of the immigrants are from other Caribbean islands. Within the population there are some racist people, some ignorance, there is some resentment... and there is a belonger vs. non-belonger factor. These things affect stateside transplants, affects those that move from other countries/islands to the USVI, affects native born and in some cases exist between the immigrant groups themselves based on place of origin. There is also acceptance and friendship.

Inter-racial couples, I noted the stats when checking the native born stats… Whether you are seeing them or not they must at least be getting their groove on, or their offspring have moved to the USVI. ;).

USVI Census Stats for people that reported themselves as mixed (2 or more races) were:
St. Croix – 4.4%
St. Thomas – 2.7%
St. John – 2%
(United States – 2.4%)

There are pros and cons to living here in the USVI whether you are native, moved, immigrated. The reality of day to day living and the surroundings may be the same but each of us is different and experience it all differently. Good and interesting to have various points of view shared.

--Islander

Islander, I have a problem with statistics when it comes to the population here. Every few years or so a "census" is taken. Residents (even snowbirds and seasonal workers) are encouraged to sign up for a paid job of going door to door in different neighborhoods with their census boards in hand. Census forms are sent out via USPS to people with mailboxes. Businesses are sent census forms and asked to distribute them amongst their employees.

I would venture to guess that the statistics as eventually tabulated are close to 70% OFF any true number whether it be on STX, STJ, STT or Water Island.

I was off and all set to go to beddybye but got thinking yet again about this forum, about Teresa's posts and the opinions that inevitably come flowing through after she posts "just one more time."

It matters not whether or not you know Teresa. What SHOULD matter to anybody contemplating moving here with children is that she's obviously a highly intelligent and intuitive woman who worked incredibly hard to make a life here for herself, her children and her husband. (In case that should be misunderstood, Teresa's husband had a very nice corporate position here!) The family was not poor by any matter of means. She has told her story several times over, in great depth, with incredible wisdom and always with the admonition that this is "her" story and with never any negatives to anyone considering relocating here. She simply keeps telling her story in the hopes of maybe perhaps getting through to whoever seeks to come here with children so that they fully appreciate the pitfalls and take off the rose-colored spectacles.

Teresa is speaking from recent experience. Some of those who have posted on this thread attesting to "no probems" raised their children here 20 years ago and were living on much kinder islands and in a generally much kinder world, so leave us please not confuse apples with oranges.

Personally, I think Teresa's posts should go into the annals of this forum and I know that many of them have. Too bad that so many don't read the "moving stories" on this forum but instant gratification is just the way of the world right now or so it seems.

OK, I'm done for now.

I have to add to the previous post that I too went through the same experiences as Theresa and I have posted thus in the past. I think that the info. is out there and from this point on we can assume that those who think that the VI plus kids etc. is a great "life opportunity" are going to think that way no matter what.
They will learn.

As to Islander's statistics...mixed race on st x is likely to be Hispanic and Black rather than Black and White. Hispanic and White would also count as mixed.

On a positive note......................................

Surely there are people out there successfully raising children in the Virgin Islands -- I mean, folks, I actually happen to know children raised and educated in the VI who seem to be bright, happy and well-adjusted :).

John B. this message board is a great source of information, but it goes without saying that it will be helpful to you to get a wide variety of opinions and perspectives.

Best of luck to you on your move. I live on STT, but if you want to PM me, I am sure that I can put you in touch with some long-time residents and educators who would be happy to talk to you and give you some advice on raising children here. One very nice lady I know has a son who recently graduated from Harvard Law School.

Perhaps there are parents currently living on STX who would be happy to do the same.

Best of luck to you on your move :)!

I know several young adults who are doing very well on STX. However, most of them are attending/have attended private or religious schools on STX. The only exception is a young woman who is attending the University Complex High School. This is a public high school associated with the University of the VI. It adjoins the USVI campus.

I work with people of all backgrounds and races. It is an unfortunate reality that almost all parents, regardless of race, struggle with this issue. Parents who can afford to do otherwise do not send their children to the public high schools.

Awesome post Linda J. IMHO it strikes just the right balance.

This is certainly NOT a place to bring children to on a whim, and it shouldn't even be considered if you don't have at least some resources -- and the more resources one has the better, as has been pointed out many times.

That said, some people, for whatever reasons, will and do move here with children and they do manage to make things work -- and sometimes even quite well. I personally know people who have.

I want to point out that there are students graduating from public high schools in the VI who go on to college; my niece is one of them and she is not unique. This past summer, at her high school graduation from Central High, she and a number of students received scholarships. My niece is a chemical engineer major and has adjusted well to college on the mainland.

Unfortunately, such successful stories are not often mentioned on the board. My younger nieces and nephews also go to public schools. They are all at the top of their classes. For instance, my six year old niece, in first grade, is performing at a third grade level. Perhaps they are anomalies or it maybe that some of the posters do not know sufficient families with children in the public schools who are doing well. That has been my impression since only the experience of mainland children are emphasized.

My story is not an endorsement that the public schools in the VI are without problems, far from it. However, many of the students who graduate from the VI public schools go on to become productive members of society whether in the VI or the US mainland.

Peace,
Johnnycake

Mell, the adults do well......how well do the kids do. Not day to day or month to month, but five years later. I think that's a better measure of a childs success.

/just posing a question

Hello,

There are children moved to the USVI by their families from the states and elsewhere and locally born children that grow up here and do fine, great, ok, excellent, swell, bad and so on.

Zeenzeen moved here after Hugo (89) and likely had their children in school through the 90s. They pointed out that their children had some of the same experiences Teresa indicated based on her children attending public school here in 2005-06. The possible hurdles and issues for adults and children living in the USVI are real. The possible rewards are real too.

I believe Teresa and Jane would not disagree that there are graduates of the public schools in the USVI regardless of background that do great, and there are!

I think they are trying to encourage those with school aged children that are considering moving from the states to the USVI to do thorough research and to carefully consider the hurdles/issues that they encountered and that other families may very likely encounter as well. Additionally to think about where and how as parents they can provide their children with the best education and environment that they can by weighing what is available to them in the states/their home town and what is available in the USVI. Basically to make an educated decision for the children and for themselves.

--Islander

johnny cake,

Nobody has suggested that West Indian children educated in the USVI public school system don't attend college or become productive members of society. However, the academic successes of West Indian children are not emphasized on this board because this board's focus is folks moving to the USVI from elsewhere, usually the states. Folks contemplating a move with children wonder how their children might adapt and the experiences of West Indian children aren't particularly relevant to the experiences children from the states can expect. Many of us know West Indian families with children in the public schools who are doing well, but this does not mean that equally bright children from the states are likely to do equally well in the same public school environment.

Islander and dntw8up;

Your points are well taken. I was only responding to Linda J's comment:

"I know several young adults who are doing very well on STX. However, most of them are attending/have attended private or religious schools on STX. The only exception is a young woman who is attending the University Complex High School". Hence my post.

Best,
Johnnycake

Johnnycake and Islander,

Great posts!!!

🙂

Yeah, really great.

This article was in the Daily News yesterday and speaks to the issue of schools.

http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_editorial?id=17606932

This woman has decided to put her "child" where her mouth is and work to make the public schools better. While I admire her stand, I'm not sure I would do the same thing.

With respect to those who have been educated in the VI public system, I still believe that, given the cholce, most parents on STX would choose private/religious education for their high school-age children.

I too put my child where my mouth was and am one of the few posters on this forum that has actually experienced the VI Secondary School system first hand. There is no decision that I have made in my life that I regret more and I make that statement in cold blood.

Some people on this forum have accused me of exaggerating how bad it really was....they weren't thereand I give nought for their empty opinions. I wish that I had had the real facts back then and decided to override her desire for ROTC and just put her straight into Country Day.