The Globally Mobile Family’s Guide to Educating Children Overseas
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
Moving overseas--whether as a missionary, diplomat, military member, or an international businessperson--can be enriching professionally and personally. Those with dependent children, however, need to carefully consider the opportunities and options for their children's education. The Globally Mobile Family's Guide to Educating Children Overseas is the tool parents and the organizations who send them need to make informed and intentional decisions about children's education internationally.
After an introductory chapter that overviews some benefits and challenges of global living, the second chapter focuses on intentional planning based on the individual family's educational goals and values. Identifying aspirations and values can guide parents in making educational choices in the global setting. Other chapters describe various options that may be available in locations where expatriates live and work, and discuss advantages, potential limitations, and factors to consider for each. The book also includes thoughts on special educational needs, transitions between options, and other issues that are crucial to the success of an international assignment.
The Globally Mobile Family's Guide to Education Children Overseas is research-based but accessibly written for parents who are not education experts. Those who want to explore more deeply will find references and recommendations for further information.
Karen A. Wrobbel (EdD) lived with her globally mobile family in three countries over a twenty-year period, and worked in roles that included teacher, administrator, school board member, and agency-wide coordinator for children’s education. Currently, she is Academic Dean and Professor of Education at Trinity International University (Deerfield, Illinois), and serves as volunteer staff with an organization that provides help to expatriate families with their children’s educational needs.
“Never before in history have parents faced so many choices on how to best educate their children. For globally mobile families, the number of factors to consider in choosing a school is amplified. . . . Finally, help has come! Wrobbel describes all options clearly, listing the benefits and challenges of each so parents can make well-informed choices. I highly recommend it!”
—Ruth E. Van Reken, Cofounder, Families in Global Transition
“We needed this book fifty years ago. When our family moved from the USA to Nigeria, the topic most hotly debated among parents was education of children. We needed this book to calmly and objectively point out the advantages and challenges of each option. . . . I highly recommend this book and wish Wrobbel had written it earlier.”
—James E. Plueddemann, Professor of Intercultural Studies, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
“Wrobbel provides invaluable information, insight, and counsel for globally mobile
families considering the education of their children overseas. . . . Karen draws on critical research, collective wisdom, and professional and personal experience to provide a definitive educational guide for globally mobile families.”
—David A. Wells, Founder, Principal, and Executive Consultant, GLOBAL School Consulting Group
“For expat parents, planning for the education of their children is an important and complex task. Wrobbel helps families consider appropriate goals for the education of their third culture kids given cross-cultural considerations and the individual needs of their children. . . . I would highly recommend this book to any parents embarking on an overseas assignment.”
—Melissa Shipman, Executive Director, The Professional Association of Cross-cultural Consultants in Education (PACE)