FOREIGN LANGUAGES

No foreign languages too early

http://www.accesstoenergy.com/view/ate/s41p831.htm
Access to Energy - Vol. 22, No. 7
LANGUAGE LESSONS

Socialized educators extol the virtues of teaching foreign languages to grade school children. In this, they disregard the fact that most children are insufficiently familiar with their own language and with the language of science and technology - mathematics. Without good abilities in their native language and in mathematics, children are retarded in their ability to think. Citizens who cannot or will not think may provide a continuing supply of humor for "Stark Raving Mad," but they constitute a dangerous flaw in our technological civilization. The first College Board exam, the PSAT, is usually given at the age of 16. By then, a child's ability in mathematics is largely determined. More techniques can be taught, but little improvement in fundamental ability is possible. At 16, however, verbal skills are still rapidly developing - especially active vocabulary.

Now, the continuing experiment in self-education in our home school here has a second set of PSAT values. The students are currently 18, 16, 15, 13, 13, and 7 and are entirely self-taught. They use the Saxon math series of books followed, after they complete calculus, by university level physics and chemistry books, also entirely self-taught. We teach no grammar, no spelling, and no punctuation except in the correction of their written essays. Their verbal skills are almost entirely developed by speaking and extensive reading.

Zachary at age 16 scored 750 in math and 730 in verbal for a total of 1480 on the PSAT. He missed two math questions. Noah, who is now 16, scored 770 in math and 630 in verbal for a total of 1400. He missed one math question. The difference in verbal score is entirely due to extent of reading. Noah engages in much less spontaneous reading than does Zachary, so his rate of vocabulary development is slower. If the test were given again at age 25, I would expect the two to score approximately the same because, by then, they should both have an active vocabulary that includes most of the words on the tests.

On April 1, 1995, the new factors for converting raw tests scores to the 200 to 800 scale go into effect (see Access to Energy, 21-7 & 22-3). This is being done to diminish politically incorrect differences between students of differing sex and race and to raise scores so that they will not reflect the disastrous results of American socialized education.

Using the new conversion table effective after April 1, Zachary's scores will be 760 in math and 800 in verbal for a total of 1560, and Noah's will be 800 in math and 700 in verbal for a total of 1500.

I am certain that this performance is far higher than it would have been had they been enslaved in the socialized public schools during their formative years. I am also certain that it is higher than it would have been had I taught them with the usual teacher-student methods rather than letting them learn by themselves from good books.

One of the finest gifts that any parent can give his children is to provide each child with a large desk in a quiet place; a set of Saxon math books available from Saxon Publishers, Inc., 1320 West Lindsey, Norman, OK 73069; a large and diverse source of light reading, good literature, history, economics, and other books; orders to work alone and uninterruptedly with these materials during his best 5 or 6 hours early each day, six days per week; a home with no TV set; a diet with no added sugar; and instructions never to attend a socialized school.

Note: We know that many talented and dedicated teachers exist in America. All of them should be working where their talents will be appreciated and best utilized - in free-enterprise, private schools.