Reply #164: Too many Americans think their children are too dumb to be made to learn a furrin language....

[Hekate]

Of course they don't put it quite like that. They use a lot of excuses about math and foreign languages being "too hard."

If it's not too hard for kids in other nations, does that mean that American kids are too dumb? Or does it mean their parents are too dumb to see the illogic?

Personally I think languages should be taught starting in kindergarten, when the brain is most flexible. Spanish makes the most sense geographically and demographically, but again, resistance among the masses would be stirred up by Limbaugh and Beck ("illegals" speak Spanish, right?), who seem to have a stake in keeping the masses ignorant.

In my ideal US educational system I'd like to see all kids taught a foreign language starting not later than first grade. But then, I'd like to see music, art, and drama return to the public schools too. All of these subjects are excellent brain food for every child.

It takes political will, and it takes money.

Hekate