So it’s like sports? Good to learn as in good for you, but none of us really get to run or pole vault for our dinner these days.

Language learning is not really an either/or issue. Human brains are designed from birth to process multiple SPOKEN languages. Communicating with other people is a survival skill. Reading and writing are not innate and, if anything, a waste of brain power when it comes to memorizing arcane and arbitrary grammar rules. Especially in English.

Example: say the word "to" out loud. How many meanings could that one sound have? How many spellings? Would someone else understand what you meant with that one word? See, wasted brain power. If you know a second language, translate each of the meanings of the word sound "to". Bet you could spell them all correctly without Autocorrect. In Spanish, and pretty much every spoken and dead language, nobody would confuse aussi (too) for deux (two).

So, is it worth spending time to strengthen cognitive skills humans are born with? Yes, if you are talking about skills and not arbitrary standards of proficiency. Language skills are the tools to help you make yourself understood to other people. Using verbal and/or sign language is the most efficient and powerful tool our brains have. Written? Not so much. That's why an estimated 1-in-5 people struggle with reading despite having at- or above- average intelligence.

For young children this is even more important because they don't have the extensive vocabulary that comes from life experience. We learn by doing and experimenting. That's why pretty much everybody can talk before they read or crawl before they run. Singing songs, playing games, and listening to stories are language skill builders. They're not a waste of time. (Memorizing i before e except after c is a waste of time when you have spelling software.) The article described Sela as using the same tools of music, play, and verbal interaction that can help any child learn anything.

Here's another way to think about it. Language development is sort of like math. You can use formulas, codes, estimation, and visuals (fingers) to solve problems and help make yourself understood by other people. Example: had to retrofit deck stairs for grandma's wheelchair. The contractor used both visual and verbal language to estimate the size and costs. Neither of us are fluent in each others' language. But I'm glad we both studied geometry!

From what I read, it sounded like Sela is making good use of public funds by using proven tools to strengthen the most important skills humans have to survive and thrive.

As an African American, I think it's incredibly important for children of color at a young age to get a boost of self-esteem by showing off (yasss!) skills beyond what society expects of them. Will they work at a Tel Aviv tech firm one day? Who knows? That's not the point. We do know that children with strong communication and problem-solving skills can do well in life. L'chaim!

Anonymous wrote:Hebrew isn't a dead language. There is a whole country of people with substantial business interests, including biotech and pharma. But it's pretty small country and not a lot of people are going to have frequent dealings with it. So, for those who want this, Sela is a good idea.

We're back to this again? But on the economics of it, the Israeli economy is smaller than that of Japan, Germany, India, Brazil, Italy, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey, Sweden, Norway, Poland, Thailand, Iran, etc. (and others who have their languages taught in DC PCS), and we still don't have (to my knowledge) any of the above languages as a focus of any DC schools and I think of Modern Hebrew as comparably "niche."

The only difference likely being strength of affinity for those seeking new charters in DC with Hebrew.

Hebrew isn't a dead language. There is a whole country of people with substantial business interests, including biotech and pharma. But it's pretty small country and not a lot of people are going to have frequent dealings with it. So, for those who want this, Sela is a good idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tired of hearing people criticize Sela because they don't like Hebrew.
The founders got their act together, wrote an application to the Charter school board and got in.
It benefits lots of kids (majority AA) who would not have the benefit of another language otherwise (proven benefits for brain development).

And please, spare me the argument of "nobody speaks Hebrew".
Latin is a dead language but that does not disturb anyone --
Another language is another language is another language ...

This is totally crazy. Another language is NOT another language etc! Latin is the very root of almost all of English as well as the other related languages. That is its usefulness.

First off, most words used day to day in English are germanic. Secondly, the vast majority of Latin derived vocabulary in English came via Norman French, so to understand the roots of English you're better off learning French, which as an added bonus is actually used by tens of millions of people around the world.

Latin is important because of its role in the history of western culture. Hebrew has similar importance.

By that argument, they should be studying Classical Hebrew, not Modern Hebrew.

Whatever they are studying they it is not helping their English ELA parcc scores improve. I don't care what language it is, unless it is used you will forget it with no middle/high school feeder or use in community. Again if you are a high achieving students, sure studying Hebrew or whatever is great but if you are doing this and struggle achieving proficiency in basic math and English it is not helping your brain grow in anyway and taking away from time you could be progressing. Frustrates me that no one thinks basic proficiency is necessary for low-performing students to catch up. Just think of all that time spent on Hebrew could be used for computers/coding, engineering, etc then at least even if aren't college material you have some basic skills to survive. The majority of low income AA children in DC will not benefit from Hebrew.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tired of hearing people criticize Sela because they don't like Hebrew.
The founders got their act together, wrote an application to the Charter school board and got in.
It benefits lots of kids (majority AA) who would not have the benefit of another language otherwise (proven benefits for brain development).

And please, spare me the argument of "nobody speaks Hebrew".
Latin is a dead language but that does not disturb anyone --
Another language is another language is another language ...

This is totally crazy. Another language is NOT another language etc! Latin is the very root of almost all of English as well as the other related languages. That is its usefulness.

First off, most words used day to day in English are germanic. Secondly, the vast majority of Latin derived vocabulary in English came via Norman French, so to understand the roots of English you're better off learning French, which as an added bonus is actually used by tens of millions of people around the world.

Latin is important because of its role in the history of western culture. Hebrew has similar importance.

By that argument, they should be studying Classical Hebrew, not Modern Hebrew.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tired of hearing people criticize Sela because they don't like Hebrew.
The founders got their act together, wrote an application to the Charter school board and got in.
It benefits lots of kids (majority AA) who would not have the benefit of another language otherwise (proven benefits for brain development).

And please, spare me the argument of "nobody speaks Hebrew".
Latin is a dead language but that does not disturb anyone --
Another language is another language is another language ...

This is totally crazy. Another language is NOT another language etc! Latin is the very root of almost all of English as well as the other related languages. That is its usefulness.

First off, most words used day to day in English are germanic. Secondly, the vast majority of Latin derived vocabulary in English came via Norman French, so to understand the roots of English you're better off learning French, which as an added bonus is actually used by tens of millions of people around the world.

Latin is important because of its role in the history of western culture. Hebrew has similar importance.

Anonymous wrote:Tired of hearing people criticize Sela because they don't like Hebrew.
The founders got their act together, wrote an application to the Charter school board and got in.
It benefits lots of kids (majority AA) who would not have the benefit of another language otherwise (proven benefits for brain development).

And please, spare me the argument of "nobody speaks Hebrew".
Latin is a dead language but that does not disturb anyone --
Another language is another language is another language ...

This is totally crazy. Another language is NOT another language etc! Latin is the very root of almost all of English as well as the other related languages. That is its usefulness.

Tired of hearing people criticize Sela because they don't like Hebrew.
The founders got their act together, wrote an application to the Charter school board and got in.
It benefits lots of kids (majority AA) who would not have the benefit of another language otherwise (proven benefits for brain development).

And please, spare me the argument of "nobody speaks Hebrew".
Latin is a dead language but that does not disturb anyone --
Another language is another language is another language ...

Of course there are many benefits to learning a second language.

But the benefits are even greater if you can actually use that second language and aside from the handful of Jewish kids having an advantage when it is time for their bar/bat mitzvah there is almost no utility to a bilingual program like this.

DC throws money at a lot of bad educational ideas/charter schools - this surely is another waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for sela! Seems like a well rounded article.

Not impressed, unless the students are going to use the language later the amount of time committed to it could be better spent (unless an advanced student) in reading, writing, math, computer coding or anything else that is useful and will grow your brain. This is not a 5 star school so again time spent on the language could be better spent. If you are going to use the language or use it in middle, high, or in community then ok! Read like a promotional add to increase support...

There are a lot of benefits to learning a second language beyond just knowing that language. And I doubt most of the white students at yu yong, or non French students at stokes French, are speaking Chinese or French on a day to day basis outside of school, but everyone still supports those schools (which I understand that Chinese speaking people constitute a significantly higher percent of the population than Hebrew, but I’m talking about regular use of the language on a daily basis which is what PP is referring to).

Yeah yeah that argument doesn't automatically apply otherwise wouldn't need ESL remediation and all the bilingual students would be advanced, we know that is not the case in fact most are behind due to not being able to speak the second language at home. Don't care what the language is, but if you are not proficient in your first language then a waste of time...many ways to enhance your brain besides learning a new language! If you cannot read and write at a high level in the US you are doomed, major problem in DC schools as evidenced by standardized test scores and the abysmal status of DC schools overall nationwide. Parents are being deluded...and it will come back to haunt them in later years. Like I said if proficient in first language and speak new one in community by all means go for it

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good for sela! Seems like a well rounded article.

Not impressed, unless the students are going to use the language later the amount of time committed to it could be better spent (unless an advanced student) in reading, writing, math, computer coding or anything else that is useful and will grow your brain. This is not a 5 star school so again time spent on the language could be better spent. If you are going to use the language or use it in middle, high, or in community then ok! Read like a promotional add to increase support...

There are a lot of benefits to learning a second language beyond just knowing that language. And I doubt most of the white students at yu yong, or non French students at stokes French, are speaking Chinese or French on a day to day basis outside of school, but everyone still supports those schools (which I understand that Chinese speaking people constitute a significantly higher percent of the population than Hebrew, but I’m talking about regular use of the language on a daily basis which is what PP is referring to).

Anonymous wrote:Good for sela! Seems like a well rounded article.

Not impressed, unless the students are going to use the language later the amount of time committed to it could be better spent (unless an advanced student) in reading, writing, math, computer coding or anything else that is useful and will grow your brain. This is not a 5 star school so again time spent on the language could be better spent. If you are going to use the language or use it in middle, high, or in community then ok! Read like a promotional add to increase support...

Good for sela! Seems like a well rounded article.