It’s fairly apparent that the educational theories of the Seventies have not born good fruit. In fact, it’s well documented that kids today are less well-educated, on the whole, than their predecessors. Among those failed theories was that rote memorization is bad, or as the critics said, “Drill and kill,” as in “Kill the learning spirit” or some such drivel. So out went the multiplication tables and vocabulary lists and in came self-esteem-based and value-neutral learning.
Michael Knox Beran, writing in City Journal, says that it’s time to bring back memorization and rote learning.
If there’s one thing progressive educators don’t like it’s rote learning. As a result, we now have several generations of Americans who’ve never memorized much of anything. Even highly educated people in their thirties and forties are often unable to recite half a dozen lines of classic poetry or prose.
Yet it wasn’t so long ago that kids in public schools from Boston to San Francisco committed poems like Shelley’s “To a Skylark” and Tennyson’s “Ulysses” to memory. They declaimed passages from Shakespeare and Wordsworth, the Psalms and the Declaration of Independence. Even in the earliest grades they got by heart snippets of “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” or “Abou Ben Adhem.” By 1970, however, this tradition was largely dead.
OTOH, I just read over at Fr. Rob’s blog that the firm in question has contributed only to Greer’s campaign and not to his opponent’s. So who knows what the real deal is, and what kind of clout this two-bit county judge wields in local politico-legal circles. It does, however, underline that sleaziness of local judicial elections.
Actually, I went to elementary school in the 80s, and had to memorize my times and addition tables, do lots of math drilling, and even memorized poems (“Annabel Lee”, “O Captain, My Captain”, a verse of “The Midnight Ride…”, “If”). Maybe that was because I was in Cobb County, Georgia. When I moved to Columbia, Maryland, the memorization went away, but by that time I did it for fun or CCD (has to memorize the Creed and other stuff).
It has been a source of sadness to me that committing things to memory by means of a jingle or verse has been abandoned in education. Likewise the habit of memorizing some poetry, a Shakespearean soliloquy or the Multiplication Tables.
But it bespeaks the trend in education for the past 40 years. In the liberal agenda to eschew >
tomcoolberth@comcast.net
http://adjesupermariam.blogspot.com/
64.136.27.14
2004-08-24 19:20:52
2004-08-24 23:20:52
FR Clark –
Where are you? Near central Mass? All I know is that one of the CCD teachers at my parish was handing pro Sodomite marriage literature a few months ago…..needless to say I’m shopping for a new parish. Another CCD teach is a BC grad….another reason to flee….
Actually, I went to elementary school in the 80s, and had to memorize my times and addition tables, do lots of math drilling, and even memorized poems (“Annabel Lee
14669
extremecatholic@nyc.rr.com
http://extremecatholic.blogspot.com
24.29.134.67
2004-08-25 08:24:40
2004-08-25 12:24:40
There was a contest once where you had to name the US presidents of the 20th Century. On the form I wrote down the names of all the presidents.
The people running the contest had not had a winner in a week and they really couldn’t believe that anyone could remember a list of (then) 40 names in sequence – including the twice-a-president Grover Cleveland.
Memorization is a skill that shouldn’t be lost to humanity.
Wonderful on the ‘new catechism’, Father. Have many of the parents complained? You must not have any liberal religious or non-religious DREs in your parish.
Anyhow… I’m pretty much an undisciplined dolt and lazy to boot. If it weren’t for forced memorization of the multiplication and division tables in grammar school, I still wouldn’t know them today. FWIW, for many years I bartended and waitressed in Irish pubs and bars. Only myself and the Irish born could add and divide in our heads. We’d sometimes sit down with the college girls and try to explain to them how to figure out the tax in your head, and honest, they’d just look at us like we were nutz, and go back to the calculator – which takes longer. Sadly, a ton of these girls were education majors and most of them were from very good schools.
The argument against memorization is completely specious. I want to ask you:
How do you get home at night if you don’t know the way by heart? Do you have to consult a map each time?
Do you need to figure out how to read from phonics on up every time you sit down to read the paper?
Do you know your own phone number? Did you memorize it or do you have to call information every time you call home?
There are things that are best figured out as you go, yes, but many many things should be “known by heart.” Even for things that are figured out anew each time, the method is often memorized—ie. division of fractions, etc.
I would think it shouldn’t be much trouble to know things that are really important to you “by heart.” If it’s not worth learning that way, how important is it, one has to ask.
FR Clark –
Where are you? Near central Mass? All I know is that one of the CCD teachers at my parish was handing pro Sodomite marriage literature a few months ago…..needless to say I’m shopping for a new parish. Another CCD teach is a BC grad….another reason to flee….
Bryan: I was thinking of the Olympics, actually. But also of Tiger Woods when he first started winning on the PGA tour. He seems to have gotten some humility of late ditioning the memory synapses) before the daily lecture would make us omans and less John Kerry/USCCB nuance.
Jaime – If “Sodomite” or “perverted” or “evil” is inappropriate language then I guess you need to tear out St Paul letters to the Romans…or do you use that new wacky Anglican translation of the Bible?
“The thing is, anything can be done if priests are willing to take a “hit” in the short term. Nobody wants to be unpopular, but I’d less rather face my Maker and tell Him I was afraid to teach the Truth.”
Fr. Clark, if you are for real, we need more like you – both priests and lay Catholics! Thank you for being such an inspiring example.
Regards, Joanne
“handing pro Sodomite marriage literature”
Sorry for the double post, but Tom – I’m with you all the way on the cultural issues, but using the above phrase is probably not the best way to win the sympathy of those who might be on the fence. In fact, it makes it very easy for our opponents to convince others that we are “hateful.” Homosexual marriage advocates will call us that no matter what we say, but let’s not validate their claims.
Regards, Joanne
With reference to the discussion on memorisation, I have noticed an increasing reliance on calculators for simple math problems. It is true that calculators are great for complex calculations, however, there does appear to be an increasing reliance on them for simple calculations which do not require their use.
Speaking as a former math teacher (college, mainly) – there’s a big problem with always using calculators. It’s not just “What do you do when you don’t have a calculator?” but also that the people using them don’t know when they’ve done something wrong. People mistype numbers, hit the wrong function key… you can get around some of this by doing all calculations twice, but that wastes time. If you know around where the answer should be (order of magnitude), or what the last digit should be, one can catch mistakes quickly.
It sure helps in my job (actuarial stuff), as we use spreadsheets all the time and have to catch each others’ mistakes.
There was a contest once where you had to name the US presidents of the 20th Century. On the form I wrote down the names of all the presidents.
The people running the contest had not had a winner in a week and they really couldn’t believe that anyone could remember a list of (then) 40 names in sequence – including the twice-a-president Grover Cleveland.
Memorization is a skill that shouldn’t be lost to humanity.
Joanne –
“Sodomite marriage” is an appropriate phrase and I borrow the reference from the Bible.
I will not be scared off by the false acusations of “hatefulness.” My Bishop warned against this tactic by the Sodomites and asked that people not get sucked in by it.
So the claims of the Sodomites are not validated. People have the gall to hand out literature at the end of Mass, so I’m going to summon the gall to use Biblical language.
On the memorization thing….its a wonder the the brain dead liberals haven’t eliminated the memorization of the alphabet or counting.
Joanne –
“Sodomite marriage” is an appropriate phrase and I borrow the reference from the Bible.
I will not be scared off by the false acusations of “hatefulness.” My Bishop warned against this tactic by the Sodomites and asked that people not get sucked in by it.
So the claims of the Sodomites are not validated. People have the gall to hand out literature at the end of Mass, so I’m going to summon the gall to use Biblical language.
On the memorization thing….its a wonder the the brain dead liberals haven’t eliminated the memorization of the alphabet or counting.
Thomas
I would love to see the chapter and verse where you found “sodomite marriage”. I’ve read the bible a few times over and couldn’t recall where this is mentioned. In fact I did a quick online bible search just for the word sodomite and came up with zilch.
Seriously, the “sodomite” language is thoroughly inappropriate. It is hateful and more importantly, it misses the point entirely. Why? Because it ignores half the homosexual population. When you are reduced to using inflammatory language, your point is weakened.
I read a really great quote on memorization but I can’t recall it now.
Jaime
Thomas
I would love to see the chapter and verse where you found “sodomite marriage”. I’ve read the bible a few times over and couldn’t recall where this is mentioned. In fact I did a quick online bible search just for the word sodomite and came up with zilch.
Seriously, the “sodomite” language is thoroughly inappropriate. It is hateful and more importantly, it misses the point entirely. Why? Because it ignores half the homosexual population. When you are reduced to using inflammatory language, your point is weakened.
I read a really great quote on memorization but I can’t recall it now.
Jaime
Father Clark, and all of you—another interesting possibility is to create a Forensics team in your middle-school. There is a Middle-Level Forensics Association, usually affiliated with the National Forensics League (high-school version.)
The competitive categories include Poetry, Non-Original Speeches, and Prose, all of which are vehicles for getting the little darlings to learn VERY well the selections YOU provide for them.
The article from CityJournal provides a number of syllabus-type possiblities.
You can have intra-mural Forensics competition, or if your area has a League, you can compete with other schools. Trust me, if you have a decent level of parent involvement in your school, your children will ALWAYS do very well in the competitions.
Father Clark, and all of you—another interesting possibility is to create a Forensics team in your middle-school. There is a Middle-Level Forensics Association, usually affiliated with the National Forensics League (high-school version.)
The competitive categories include Poetry, Non-Original Speeches, and Prose, all of which are vehicles for getting the little darlings to learn VERY well the selections YOU provide for them.
The article from CityJournal provides a number of syllabus-type possiblities.
You can have intra-mural Forensics competition, or if your area has a League, you can compete with other schools. Trust me, if you have a decent level of parent involvement in your school, your children will ALWAYS do very well in the competitions.
Not so much about memorization, but still on the educational topica), who I had in elementary school MADE us learn by memorization. Looking back, it was the best thing that ever happened to me, because when my family moved to Iowa, I was a much better student than most of the children in my class.
I could diagram sentences, I knew my times tables, and the PVBM’s (Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary) were very impressed by my knowledge and by my brother’s. They actually approached my parents and asked the how’s and why’s…..Mother loves to tell the story of how Sister Diane, PVBM couldn’t get over the fact that I could diagram a sentence in the 5th grade. (It was a 6th grade aptitude in Iowa.) Mother simply said that Sr. Joan Marie, OP was a stickler on English. So we learned it, rote.
Memorization is a great thing….perhaps that is the reason that I have an easy time learning languages. Latin came to me like English…..easy stuff.
However, I am with Jaime, where does the Bible talk about Sodomite marriage? I did a search of the Douay-Rheims Bible, and came up with only two instances where the word sodomite was used. Genesis 14:11 and 2 Peter 2:6. Niether has anything to do with the Marriage. So, how is the statement, 8-24 14:24:41
2004-08-24 18:24:41
OTOH, I just read over at Fr. Rob’s blog that the firm in question has contributed only to Greer’s campaign and not to his opponent’s. So who knows what the real deal is, and what kind of clout this two-bit county judge wields in local politico-legal circles. It does, however, underline that sleaziness of local judicial elections.
Not so much about memorization, but still on the educational topichor>
camilam42@gmail.com
10.3.0.101
2004-08-25 18:21:46
2004-08-25 22:21:46
I started grade school in the 70’s and finished in the early 80’s. I am a product of Catholic Schools and I can tell you, the Nashville Dominicans (Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia), who I had in elementary school MADE us learn by memorization. Looking back, it was the best thing that ever happened to me, because when my family moved to Iowa, I was a much better student than most of the children in my class.
I could diagram sentences, I knew my times tables, and the PVBM’s (Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary) were very impressed by my knowledge and by my brother’s. They actually approached my parents and asked the how’s and why’s…..Mother loves to tell the story of how Sister Diane, PVBM couldn’t get over the fact that I could diagram a sentence in the 5th grade. (It was a 6th grade aptitude in Iowa.) Mother simply said that Sr. Joan Marie, OP was a stickler on English. So we learned it, rote.
Memorization is a great thing….perhaps that is the reason that I have an easy time learning languages. Latin came to me like English…..easy stuff.
However, I am with Jaime, where does the Bible talk about Sodomite marriage? I did a search of the Douay-Rheims Bible, and came up with only two instances where the word sodomite was used. Genesis 14:11 and 2 Peter 2:6. Niether has anything to do with the Marriage. So, how is the statement, :comment_author_email>tomcoolberth@comcast.nethttp://adjesupermariam.blogspot.com/
64.136.27.14
2004-08-26 11:33:24
2004-08-26 15:33:24
I borrowed the word “Sodom” from the Bible …neither does the Bible use the phrase “homosexual marriage” , “gay marriage” or “same-sex marriage”. Sodom is an appropriate reference and it is not inflammatory. Sodom referred to a whole city that was rife with perversion, Massachusetts is a modern-day example of this. If the truth inflames then so be it.
Voicing great truths with great love is a great skill, maybe that’s why he’s Pope and I’m not. Then again, soft language is what allows Jesuits to testify before the Massachusetts Legislature in favor of Sodomite marriage and get away with it. Papal nuance is lost on people given over to depravity.
We need hard language. More St Paul from the letters to the Romans and less John Kerry/USCCB nuance.
Jaime – If “Sodomite” or “perverted” or “evil” is inappropriate language then I guess you need to tear out St Paul letters to the Romans…or do you use that new wacky Anglican translation of the Bible?
I borrowed the word “Sodom” from the Bible …neither does the Bible use the phrase “homosexual marriage” , “gay marriage” or “same-sex marriage”. Sodom is an appropriate reference and it is not inflammatory. Sodom referred to a whole city that was rife with perversion, Massachusetts is a modern-day example of this. If the truth inflames then so be it.
Voicing great truths with great love is a great skill, maybe that’s why he’s Pope and I’m not. Then again, soft language is what allows Jesuits to testify before the Massachusetts Legislature in favor of Sodomite marriage and get away with it. Papal nuance is lost on people given over to depravity.
We need hard language. More St Paul from the letters to the Romans and less John Kerry/USCCB nuance.
Jaime – If “Sodomite” or “perverted” or “evil” is inappropriate language then I guess you need to tear out St Paul letters to the Romans…or do you use that new wacky Anglican translation of the Bible?
Jaime – If have been learned if they had ever been taught to practice it.
Jaime – If wp:comment_id>17649
dom@bettnet.com
https://www.bettnet.com
192.168.1.1
2004-08-26 15:55:09
2004-08-26 19:55:09
Dom it was never my intention to get into graphic details on what a on
https://www.bettnet.com/?p=3850
Tue, 24 Aug 2004 13:38:10 -0500
Michael Knox Beran, writing in City Journal, says that it’s time to bring back memorization and rote learning.
]]>I moved it to the forum….it is better served there…..
Camilam
Here is the direct link to the forum thread: http://bettnet.dyndns.org/blog/forum/threads.php?id=3827_0_2_0_C
Sorry, Dom and others, for posting in the inappropriate place – Joanne
Dom it was never my intention to get into graphic details on what a “sodomite” truly is. My point was supposed to be “if one uses accurate language, you sound more intelligent”.
I’m all for getting back on the subject of memorization.
BTW “Sesame Street” was mentioned prior. There is a strong argument that “Sesame Street” holds much of the responsibility of this generation’s (and last) ability to hold an attention span or to memorize. The creators of “Sesame Street” believed that 30 minutes in a passive setting was far too long for children on one topic. They were the ones to introduce 3-5 minute segments on various topics. While well intentioned, it may have had an adverse effect on society. Instead of increasing comprehension (their goal) it may have added to the decrease of attention span. Not only has this affected memorization but could be linked to the trends in commercials. Instead of a 60 second commercial 30 years ago, we now have 15 second commecials with up to 20 different camera angles. All directed to keeping our ever shortening attention span.
I’m sorry what was I saying?
Dom it was never my intention to get into graphic details on what a thod is often memorized—ie. division of fractions, etc.
I would think it shouldn’t be much trouble to know things that are really important to you “by heart.” If it’s not worth learning that way, how important is it, one has to ask.