An Educational Experience
* The Times has devoted many column inches to the issue of our schools and their failure to produce graduates with acceptable grades.
The debate over Ebonics and other experiments in methodology has left us at square one, with failing grades and miles behind other countries. The problem grows as “experts” come up with shortcuts and new technology, while serious students do succeed.
In my travels I sat in on a fascinating learning experience. In Rome I witnessed a class for people of all ages. These students were of different nationalities speaking languages other than English. They were there to prepare for life in English-speaking countries. The instructor spoke only English and none of the students’ native languages.
Within a few weeks, the students were conversing with one another and with guests like me--in English.
HERMAN BERMAN
Sherman Oaks
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