HP books (British), languages, blokes and journals

[nlpnt at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 6703

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Neil Ward" <neilward at d...> wrote:
> Most British schools would teach French as a second language from 
age 11/12
> and offer other languages to older students, 

This may be the root of the problem; most American schools 
traditionally haven't offered foreign languages until high school 
(ages 14-18). Now, most middle schools/junior highs offer at least 
one language (either French or Spanish; if two, those two), but 
research shows that languages are most easily learned before age 10 
and very few elementary schools have foreign-language programs. They 
tend to be associated with public (state) schools in property-tax-
rich suburbs, and very trendy private schools. 

Note to Brits; in most U.S. states, education funding is raised 
through property taxes and spent locally- attempts to pool them 
statewide tend to result in massive hue and cry from citizens of 
towns that'd lose money by pooling. Also, private, non-parochial, 
elementary schools in the U.S. tend to follow the very latest trends 
and be the most experimental of all schools; the opposite seems to be 
the case in Britain. Why such a difference in the wishes of parents 
(or at least those who are willing and able to pay for their child's 
elementary education?)