“Language is always changing.” This is the remark we hear repeatedly when the idea of implementing Latin is brought up. The progressive mindset of the present age sniggers derisively at the idea of teaching such an old and, clearly, obsolete language. In the days of texting, messaging, chatting—with emojis and Read more…
Everyone is in favor of education, but not everyone can say exactly what they mean by the word. To some, education consists of training in practical skills that can lead to a job; to some it is preparing for tests that will increase the likelihood of getting into a good Read more…
Modern literature studies always raise the question “Who was Shakespeare?” Some claim he was the Earl of Oxford using a pseudonym while others say he was a man from a poor background in Stratford-upon-Avon who actually had the name of Shakespeare.
by E. Christian Kopff Read the article here.
by Zachary Woelfel “Classical education classes provide a variety of intangible skills that are essential to success in today’s workplace.” See more at http://www.theithacan.org/30320
The College Board announced last week that this years SAT reading scores were the “lowest on record.” In fact, their scores in math and writing also went down. E. D. Hirsch, Jr. pointed out that the problem is that, instead of having students actually, like, read, they are being taught how to Read more…
Average grades have increased at America’s high schools every year since 1991 despite the fact that ACT scores have remained flat, reports economist Mark Perry. Maybe this is good. Maybe we will all feel better about ourselves now that we think we are smarter than we really are. Self-esteem, after Read more…
According to Chester Finn, not only do American students compare poorly to students in other countries on math proficiency, but even students from the highest performing American states still get beat out by a bevy of nations. Read the report here. originally published Nov. 2010
Here is the Atlantic magazine, in a new article, “Your Child Left Behind,” on the sorry state of education in the United States: Stanford economist Eric Hanushek and two colleagues recently conducted an experiment to answer just such questions, ranking American states and foreign countries side by side. Like our Read more…
One of the charges brought against classic literature by the champions of “YA” (note the jargonistic use of the acronym)–“Young Adult”–books that have been the subject of recent comments on my blog–is that the classics aren’t “relevant.” They don’t “speak” to modern people. I thought about these remarks when I Read more…