Spanish Public School

A few uniquely Spanish items to share with you today....

Fact or Fiction....The Spanish public education system 

• You're thinking about getting your child into Spanish public school (sps) when you arrive in Spain, you might as well forget about it because you have to register them back in March. 

FICTION.  This is what they want you to believe!   The truth is you can still get them in.  It just takes a bit of persistence, a little knowledge of the language & legs to walk on.

• District policies and basic information regarding neighborhood schools are public knowledge, and is published on the Internet.

FICTION.  Nobody knows anything about anything.  Even the people in the district office don't know who does what when.  Oh, and don't bother with the school's website...it hasn't been updated since 2008.

• If you need to go to the district office to get information or sign papers be sure to go early because the line will be enormous.

FACT.  We went to the district office at least 4 times during this whole process, so we have first hand knowledge!  We walked into a lobby crowded with adults.  Tons of parents just milling around, having coffee and no rhyme or reason as to who was in line where or next to go into whatever office.  At one point Judy, my partner in crime, went to ask the security guard how we'd know when it was our turn.  He didn't know either.  He simply turned away from her asked the entire lobby to quiet down.  Then, to our utter disbelief he asked who was the next in line!  We about died!  No sense of order, no numbered ticket system, no "now serving number" digital display.  It was crazy!

• If you need to visit the district office be sure to go during working hours which are 9 am until 1pm.

FACT.  The district office is only open for 4 hours every day.  The best part is, and they don't tell you this on the sign...employees of the district office are allowed to take a 1 hour break for breakfast!!!  So, even though you've driven 40km, had to pay for parking and rearranged your husbands schedule so he could also attend, you still have to wait if the person you want to see is out for desayuno!

• If you need to talk to someone in charge all you have to do is ask.

FACT.  All you have to do is ask and ask and ask again because no one will admit to being in charge. They'll send you all over town because everyone passes the buck to the next person...super strange, not sure if anyone is running this country sometimes!

• When your kids are placed in a school you'll be contacted.  Also, if you're wondering you can call the district office at this number xxx xx xxx to speak to someone.

FICTION.  My kids got overlooked and they were placed into a school, but no one contacted me for 3 days after school started.  And if you call that number it's just going to ring...24 hours a day.  (here's a side note, we don't actually know where that number was ringing to because when we were in the district office, no phones were ringing, even when we called the above number!!)

• Getting your kids enrolled into Spanish public school is exhausting, frustrating, time consuming, infuriating, hilarious and a worth while gift you can give your children who will after 3 years time will know a second language and culture.

FACT.