Catoctin clarion., 1923-01-25
Editorial STAFF.
French


French
In practically all of the high schools
of America subject known as French
is taught. Why? Just what is French !
It is foreign language which belongs
to the French people and which can
never be mastered successfully outside
of France. Why, then, is it taught in
our high schools? Is it to make US
learn this new language and forget
our own, or to flood the country with
French teachers and interpreters
For after all, these are the only two
classes of people that this language
will benefit.
In our school we give almost as
much time to French as we do to Eng
ish. Will we be benefited by it?
No. Would we benefit ourselves If
we had two periods Of English instead
of one a day? Yes. Because then
we could build better foundation and
perhaps some day become great states
men. Theodore Roosevelt in his
school days built foundation not of
the French language, but of the Eng
ish language. In his maturity he
was master of two hundred and fifty
thousand words of the worlds great
est language, English. President
Harding who is one of Americas
greatest statesman, also studied thor
oughly the English language If
those men can master one language
and become our greatest men, why
should we try to master two Ian
guages at the same time? 1t is true
that no one man can be the President
of two countries. Then why not teach
us more English that we might master
our own language when we grow into
manhood? In this way we would
raise the standard of the English Ian
guage, and if we raised the standard
of our language it would very certain
ly cause those statesmen who come
here from other countries to sit up and
take notice. A great statesman from
France would not go home and tell
his people, that the American people
had forgotten their own language and
that we were trying to talk French.
It has taken President Harding and
Mr.. Roosevelt all of their lives to be-
come masters of the English language.
And when this Is the case, how much
French could we learn in eighteen
months. When we have completed
our eighteen months course could we
20 to France and talk with the intelli-
gent class of people? Could we sit
in q court room and interpret the
speech of an educated Frenchman
think not.
A high school student has a choice
between Latin and French. Then why
is he not encouraged to take Latin,
when every teacher knows that it will
benefit him much more than French.
To take up the profession Of doctor,
a preacher or a druggist one must
master Latin. Yet is he compelled
to know French before he can become
a doctor. No, French only benefits
two classes of people, French teachers
and interpreters.
When George Washington, Abra-
ham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt
went to school were foreign languages
taught? Of course not. Yet how
many of these boys who now taking
these men? How many will become
teachers? Will your knowledge of
French make a living for you? If
you become master of some musical
instrument as some of the boys are
now doing, would it not make living
for you? A few years ago when only
arithmetic, English, and spelling were
taught, America had far better states
men than we now have, but those days
are gone forever.
In conclusion of my attack upon
such popular language let me ask,
eff we think that the English Ian
guage is the greatest language, and
that it should be universally spoken,
why do we study SO many foreign Ian
guages and not encourage our own in
foreign countries ?" Today there are
many barbarious countries or states
where America might send mission
aries to teach the English language.
Many other reasons exist why we
should have more English and less
French, but space and time will not
permit me to explain. For instance,
in this composition no doubt you will
find many errors, but If I knew more
English, perhaps the errors would not
appear. At times it is hard to get
pupils to write editorials for the pa
per. Why? Not enough English?
How many of our seniors could write
an editorial in French?
must admit that am not attempt
ing to lead those who love the Mar
salailles astray, but I will say that
John our brightest French student will
never go to France and win one of
their beautiful maidens with his two
years knowledge of French.
Grady Finch, "a