Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1960 University Daily Kansan
Page 5
Secondary Schools Boost Language Study
(Editor's note—This is the third of four articles on a recent report of a 13-member Chancellor's Committee on Foreign Language Study.)
By Ray Miller
High schools in Kansas have been far below the national average in offering modern foreign language.
THE NEW METHOD—Rosemary Nusbaum, Eudora High School student, makes use of her school's new sound laboratory for German instruction. Put into use this year, the laboratory makes Eudora's foreign language class one of the most modern found in the state.
Committee Recommends
Statistics published in the National Interest and Foreign Languages placed Kansas 41st among 48 states with only 19.3 per cent of its public high schools offering modern foreign languages.
For this reason, the Chancellor's committee concluded that:
"There is a genuine need for wise counseling as well as provision for good instruction in the foreign language offered at the high school level."
If KU is to gain regional leadership in this field, as the committee suggests, it is necessary for the University to update and upgrade its own program, raising the language requirements in the high schools.
What is the current climate in the high schools towards expanded foreign language study? What type of opposition will expansion meet with the small high schools where financing is a problem?
The committee's recommendations, discussed in yesterday's article, will have a definite impact on the high schools, requiring them to prepare their students for university admission.
Indications are that KU will meet less opposition to its entering student requirement than was expected by committee members and some faculty members.
Outlook is Promising
Charles Shughart, superintendent of De Soto (Kansas) public schools, said that the De Soto High School is planning the addition of Spanish to its curriculum, possibly by next year. The school already offers instruction in Latin.
State Ups Requirements
Mr. Shughart said that the State Department of Education has changed its method of classifying accredited high schools.
"Since the addition of a modern language is being voiced as a requirement, and to maintain our standards of the past, we are planning to institute a modern as well as ancient language," Mr. Shughart said.
Under the new classification system which is now in effect in Kansas, schools are no longer rated as A, B, C, or D schools. The new system rates schools as being comprehensive, standard, or approved.
A comprehensive school, the highest rating, requires that two languages be taught for a total of five different courses, three years of one language and two of another. This would mean three consecutive courses of one language and a minimum of two in another course must be taught.
A standard school is required to offer three years of instruction in one foreign language, while an approved school, the lowest classification, is not required to offer any foreign language.
Cost a Problem
Mr. Shughart said that his school could not afford an extensive language program as schools with over 500 enrollment can. De Soto has an
enrollment of approximately 150 students.
"It is going to be a tough job to get enough students enrolled in the courses to pay us for hiring a teacher. This is going to be an expensive thing," he said.
However, Mr. Shughart expressed optimism about the eventual success of the program.
"The students and people are not wholly sold on the program but they will become more so now that the state department (of education) has made foreign language study a requirement. Also the University's entering student requirement will have its effect," he said.
Student Interest Lags
Student Interest Lags Mr. Shughart said he is concerned over the problem of interesting students in taking a language.
He said that the freedom of choice, in regards to courses, experienced by high school students in the last decade, will present a problem.
"Now we are back to forcing them into this type of course. This won't be an easy thing (having to take a foreign language) after being able to turn these courses down. They won't fall all over each other to take difficult subjects again. Their freedom of choice will be a difficult handicap to overcome," he said.
However, Mr. Shughart indicated that concerned people in the community have recognized the need for expansion of foreign language instruction.
While the need for this expansion is becoming universal in Kansas, the type of language program varies from community to community.
Mr. D. E. Kerr, principal of Eudora High School, said that the Eudora community has already instituted an accelerated program.
Eudora Progresses
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Under this program, modern foreign languages being taught in grade schools in the nation have surged in 1955-56 to include 2,000 schools in 48 states. In 1953 languages were being taught in grade schools in only 33 states.
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"We will be all prepared for it. However, it appears to be coming a little faster than expected. I don't think there will be much opposition."
"But expansion, it seems, should be made in full cognizance of the following admonition of educator William Riley Parker. . . for the surest way of discrediting language instruction—causing the public to doubt its value and relevance—is to have it done by teachers who are not qualified," the committee said.
This surge, however, has brought some serious problems.
With considerable pride, Mr. Kerr described a new German language laboratory utilizing tape recorders, ear phones, and a master control panel which enables the instructor to listen to student recitation at will. It is similar to the KU language sound laboratory.
In commenting on the Chancellor's foreign language committee recommendations, Mr. Kerr said:
(Tomorrow's article will discuss steps being taken by KU to give emphasis to its foreign language program to encourage interest in the field of foreign languages.)
Open Mon. thru Sat. 8:30-8:30, Sun. 10-6
Mr. Kerr said that German was chosen because $ \frac{1}{2} $ of the expense of the equipment is provided by the federal government under the National Defense Education Act. No financial aid is given for an ancient language.
Mr. Kerr said that out of a total enrollment of 152, 49 students are enrolled in the course. The course is open to all grades. Three consecutive courses will be offered and an increase in enrollment is expected in beginning German next year.
Elementary Schools Progress
The Eudora German course is considered one of the better language classes in the state high schools, Mr. Kerr said.
Languages in Elementary Schools program (FLES).
eventual entering student requirement at the universities.
"We have been considering this for the past three of four years — at community demand," Mr. Kerr said.
In the grade schools, the Chancellor's committee reports one interesting and significant development in the area of foreign language instruction. This is the Foreign
Community Interest High
I pitied him in his blindness; But can I boast, "in see?" Perhaps there walks a spirit close by, who pities me. —Harry Kemp
Mr. Kerr attributed the community interest to the recent upgrading of high school classification by the State Department of Education's emphasis on languages nationally, and by such recent studies as, "The American High School Today" by Dr. James B. Conant, and recognition of an
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