European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 2, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Education going native language Barrier tumbles Down by Wendy Bourland staff writer when Sli icy Dulton ind daughter Casey Oien arrived in the Netherlands two years ago they settled in Woudenberg a Village of 1200 with an american immunity of 200. None of the american kids Al ended the dutch elementary school. None does now except Casey. Stacy Dutton de idea that Casey would get a Heller education by attending a dutch school then told her daughter the plan. He seven year old s reaction i Don t Wanna do hut Dullon enrolled Casey in the Kont Ngin is Hool. I wanted her to experience Europe and i did t feel she would get to at an american school said Dulton a Legal assist my in the military Justice division of the 12ml i a i Fighier so. At Soe Lerberg Ali. I Tell the dutch school would give her a More Well rounded the 29-year-old staff sergeant and her air i orce husband divorced shortly after Casey s birth in i England. This was Casey s fourth move and her first visit to Europe since leaving England As a baby. The idea of dutch school scared Casey. I wondered what s this school going to be like she said. I had at the end of the first Lay the second grader was miserable. Casey came Home almost crying her Mother said. She told me they All came and stood around Casey Oien 9, has leaped the language Barrier by attending a dutch school. Me and talked real loud and i did t know what they were saying " that was last year. A visit to the school this year found Casey in a classroom with the 9 and 10-year Olds head to head with the Little girl who shares her desk whispering and giggling Over a grammar textbook. The language was a Challenge for her at first but she s fluent now Dulton said. And she learns suites photo Lynda w Sparks Casey conjugates dutch verbs for her teacher Ian Mas land. German and French next Casey s dutch is very Good said teacher Ian Maasland. Last year she walked around the streets of the Village and a teacher worked with her in the part time Tutor was hired by the school. Now she reads in dutch and is learning grammar. She picked it up very fast he said. Casey said language is Only part of the experience. A kid could probably learn a whole lot Here she said. You get weird fractions and divisions Anil there s arts and Dutton sees a Confidence growing in her daughter. The different lifestyle in Europe in t strange or Odd to her anymore Pulton said. She s not afraid of the bus system or of the food being Dutton said the people of Woudenberg have gone out of their Way to help Casey adjust. They be been very supportive she said. Casey is now teaching her Mother a thing or two. We made a Deal Dutton said. I told her if you can learn dutch i can learn Dulch. Thanks to her i m in a dutch she said Casey loves to teach her the language. She grabs my Nice and helps me make sounds she said laughing. Dutton is pleased with the school s educational program and with the out of class activities offered. They take bicycle Field trips go to swimming lessons at the town Pool and go to shops to Price and buy food she said. The discipline and Structure is Good. I m Casey said she was once very angry at her Mother for making her go to the school. And now a Little but not a lot Casey said. She s made Dulch friends among her classmates. My friends Are Nice she said. They help me when i can t understand she s returning the kindness by teaching them English. One of my friends has Brothers and Sisters who speak a Little English she said. " they gave me dutch lessons so i m giving them american Casey is comfortable with the Dulch people in her Village and they with her. But living a double life can get confusing. Sometimes i talk to my american friends in dutch because i forget she said. I use dutch All the october 1986 stripes Magazine 17
