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Do you have the full statistics? That'd be interesting. Legolas Send a noteboard - 27/09/2015 04:59:40 PM

View original postAccording to what I found, only 14% of secondary schools in the US offer German, which is one percentage point above Latin. I personally never went to a school that offered German (if I did, I would have taken it). None of my friends ever went to schools that offered German, though one of my cousins lived in Minnesota and German was offered there. It was very unusual, so unusual that people remarked on it.

The few schools whose language choices I saw were possibly not very representative, then... in fairness, even with the rapid decline of French, it might still have a slight edge in terms of usefulness over German, if nothing else because Germans are less likely to have difficulties communicating in English.

View original postIn the vast majority of the United States, you have two options at most: Spanish and (usually) French. Some places only offer Spanish. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have moved to a town that had a Latin program. I actually got a waiver to go to that school because it was outside my district, but taking Latin was one of the permitted reasons to switch.

Don't you think that for people who don't go on to study other languages later, Spanish would be better than Latin, though? At least, if you assume them to be roughly equivalent in terms of academic rigor, which as you point out may not be the case...

In the places in Europe where Latin is still taught at HS level, like here and some parts of Germany, they're always careful to not let it crowd out any modern languages - it's certainly an enrichment if you can take it, but it shouldn't put you back in your knowledge of modern languages which you will actually need to communicate in.

View original postLanguage study in the United States in secondary schools is a complete joke. My Latin teacher was strict, but most people ended up with 4 years of Spanish and could still only say "Yo quiero Taco Bell".

Heh. That's sad. Though looking at the French of some people I know, who have all had the usual eight years of French classes, it's not surprising or particularly American, either.

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I don't understand education priorities Cannoli - 22/09/2015 04:21:44 AM 792 Views

The nation is falling apart due to stupidity Tom - 22/09/2015 02:57:18 PM 572 Views

It amazes me how many parents don't seem to think they have a role in thier children's education random thoughts - 22/09/2015 05:44:33 PM 509 Views

Accelerated Reader! DREWRULESWOT! - 22/09/2015 08:37:33 PM 555 Views

Re: Accelerated Reader! Cannoli - 23/09/2015 01:18:37 AM 627 Views

It doesn't necessarily follow that education is getting worse, though. Legolas - 22/09/2015 06:22:31 PM 617 Views

But it has. College is now teaching what high school should have. Tom - 22/09/2015 09:00:20 PM 695 Views

I'll take your word for that, but... Legolas - 22/09/2015 11:02:28 PM 553 Views

Re: It doesn't necessarily follow that education is getting worse, though. Cannoli - 23/09/2015 02:03:03 AM 506 Views

To some extent - not entirely - it's just that the ideas of general knowledge were different. Legolas - 23/09/2015 06:25:36 PM 581 Views

You keep making this error in your logic. Tom - 23/09/2015 07:44:00 PM 489 Views

I do agree with you in large parts - but I don't see the full picture as bleakly. Maybe wrongly. Legolas - 23/09/2015 10:16:54 PM 532 Views

Johnny can't read is hardly new random thoughts - 28/09/2015 05:25:29 PM 520 Views

It's more symptomatic, IMO Cannoli - 26/09/2015 05:49:12 PM 512 Views

We agree on most things, then. Good. Legolas - 26/09/2015 11:09:40 PM 457 Views

German? Tom - 27/09/2015 03:21:51 PM 514 Views

Do you have the full statistics? That'd be interesting. Legolas - 27/09/2015 04:59:40 PM 479 Views

Can you list those language choices? Vodalus - 28/09/2015 07:21:37 AM 543 Views

Wait, who is that a question to? Legolas - 28/09/2015 06:38:20 PM 484 Views

You. Vodalus - 28/09/2015 08:05:54 PM 640 Views

Oh. I couldn't tell you exactly. Legolas - 28/09/2015 08:39:53 PM 523 Views

My local High School only offers Spanish and French random thoughts - 28/09/2015 05:34:27 PM 483 Views

Indeed. Cannoli - 27/09/2015 11:41:07 PM 449 Views

My experience is similar. Ghavrel - 02/10/2015 09:14:58 PM 456 Views

The answer you gave was less accurate than what the teacher was asking for random thoughts - 28/09/2015 05:06:12 PM 426 Views

A math teacher worth their salt should grade according to the solution method AgentApple - 28/09/2015 05:28:45 PM 568 Views

the most important thing is top give the correct answer and only one is correct. random thoughts - 28/09/2015 06:27:22 PM 474 Views

That 43% is another BS survey result random thoughts - 28/09/2015 04:36:51 PM 496 Views

So apparently you get a double post even if you get a server error message. Tom - 22/09/2015 02:57:26 PM 598 Views

Surely if you invest in your child's education, you should aim to get the most bang for your buck. Legolas - 22/09/2015 06:11:51 PM 459 Views

you do realize that TV is different than real life, yes? *NM* moondog - 24/09/2015 12:07:27 AM 235 Views

Then why do we need Strong Female characters? Why is it wrong to portray possible racism? Cannoli - 26/09/2015 05:24:05 PM 510 Views

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<quote id="288701"><quote id="288700">According to what I found, only 14% of secondary schools in the US offer German, which is one percentage point above Latin.  I personally never went to a school that offered German (if I did, I would have taken it).  None of my friends ever went to schools that offered German, though one of my cousins lived in Minnesota and German was offered there.  It was very unusual, so unusual that people remarked on it.</quote></quote>

<quote id="288701">The few schools whose language choices I saw were possibly not very representative, then... in fairness, even with the rapid decline of French, it might still have a slight edge in terms of usefulness over German, if nothing else because Germans are less likely to have difficulties communicating in English. </quote>

<quote id="288701"><quote id="288700">In the vast majority of the United States, you have two options at most: Spanish and (usually) French.  Some places only offer Spanish.  I consider myself incredibly lucky to have moved to a town that had a Latin program.  I actually got a waiver to go to that school because it was outside my district, but taking Latin was one of the permitted reasons to switch.</quote></quote>

<quote id="288701">Don't you think that for people who don't go on to study other languages later, Spanish would be better than Latin, though? At least, if you assume them to be roughly equivalent in terms of academic rigor, which as you point out may not be the case... </quote>

<quote id="288701">In the places in Europe where Latin is still taught at HS level, like here and some parts of Germany, they're always careful to not let it crowd out any modern languages - it's certainly an enrichment if you can take it, but it shouldn't put you back in your knowledge of modern languages which you will actually need to communicate in. </quote>

<quote id="288701"><quote id="288700">Language study in the United States in secondary schools is a complete joke.  My Latin teacher was strict, but most people ended up with 4 years of Spanish and could still only say "Yo quiero Taco Bell".</quote></quote>

<quote id="288701">Heh. That's sad. Though looking at the French of some people I know, who have all had the usual eight years of French classes, it's not surprising or particularly American, either. </quote>

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