Statement by United States Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath

STATEMENT * unless a student shows a marked lack of aptitude in the study of a foreign language he ought to gain at least an elementary knowledge of one language other than his own as part of his general studies. In some instances this language unit could be made a part of an area studies program, but in any event instruction in the more common modern languages can be provided without hardship by almost all our institutions of higher education. In many instances this requirement could already have been satisfied by courses available in the high school years to those expecting to go to college. We shall be better able as a people to play our part intelligently on the international stage when more of us know something of the languages and the cultures of other lands. And another purpose of general education will indirectly be achieved. We will, if such instruction is effective, gain a better understanding of ourselves and our way of life, In advocating language instruction for general education I would suggest that some of the criteria applied to other subjects to determine their value for general education should also be applied to courses in foreign language. It can doubtless be made more interesting and more functional in the lives of citizens generally if newer methods which emphasize the spoken word are used, and if language teachers remember that though some of the students before them may become great scholars most of them will not--and hence instruction should consider the needs of the latter as well as the former. (Florida State University, General Education at Mid-Century, p. 19.) * By Earl James McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Education, Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C., reprinted in The University of Washington College of Education Record, January 1952, Volume XVIII, Number 2, page 18.