Common sense

Marger, Chapter 9
I know of some very educated, very intelligent folks that insist Asians are superior to Americans in every way and will argue anyone into the ground about it. It’s rather comical just listening to them go on about their theories. To hear them talk, you would think that Asians were born with a special ‘smart’ gene or something. I often wonder how they managed to get so far in life without a lick of common sense! However, such ignorance pervades our western society’s idea of what is considered a well-rounded education.
Americans aren’t born with an ignorant gene. Asians aren’t born with a smart gene. There are no hidden secrets. No unsolvable mystery. What the Asians do possess over us, as do other nations, is good ole common sense and the forethought to actually apply it. Take a look at their educational system. Children at primary level are immersed in languages, math, and science. The US doesn’t require language until High School level. What’s wrong with that picture? How many times have you heard someone say “I had 3 or 4 years of blank language in HS and I don’t remember a thing?” That’s mostly because it is implemented at the worst possible time in our educational lives. Consider my personal dilemma: In the late 60’s my HS had 4 diploma programs (academic, commercial, general, & vocational). Depending on which program you were assigned you may be allowed to take a language. There was another catch; you also had to have been in honor classes throughout elementary and middle school. The outcome; only a handful of students were able to take a language. Their only choices though, were French, German, Italian, & Latin. If by chance Spanish was offered, it was Castilian.
So, I didn’t have a language in HS. Now, to graduate from SUNY Fredonia I’m required to have at least one semester of language. Tell me, what is wrong with that picture? How will that round out my education? Yes, it’s great to learn other languages for all the reasons that I’m certain you can come up with. But, in my case, how will forcing me to take one semester of a language going to help me in any way? My money will be better spent to invest in Rosetta Stone. This is exactly what I plan to do.
Another sad and neglected area of our educational system is money. Wasn’t the Lottery supposedly created to bolster educational cost? Well, we have created lots of millionaires while education continues to suffer and endure program cuts. Add to that, the fact that we still just cannot seem to get our curriculum priorities in order!
So, are Asians innately superior? Of course not! Are they innately more sensible? Most definitely!
S. Ramos, Post #11