[Vision2020] Wilson says and CBN reports

[J Ford]

Ok;  I just watched the interview that CBN did with Garfield and Wilson 
regarding Logos School and NSA.

I find it interesting that Garfield specifically states rote learning is 
essential and that "learning to reason comes later."  In other words, it is 
not important to understand WHY something works or why something is done in 
a specific way, only that it does or is because the teacher says it does or 
is.  "Rote learning is  almost a bad term, in many cases."  But that is how 
they teach in Logos.  Apparently, learning logic at an earlier age, such as 
even 6th grade is beyond the children.

His wife, however, a third grade teacher says "The reason I teach Latin is 
because it teaches students how to think.  In a detailed way.  I also like 
the way it subconsciously reinforces the English grammar."  (Wonder if she 
taught Christ Schlect?)

The report then goes on to say that by 8th grade the students are ready to 
learn logic.  One student is heard to say "If one of the statements is true, 
the other one must be false."  Garfield says "They want to find out 
fallacies; they want to catch people out."  (Why?  Are they teaching these 
kids to dis-trust the rest of society?) The narrator says, "they learn how 
to reason and argue.  By High School, they're studying rhetoric and learning 
how to convey all they've learned persuasively."

Huh?  Does this mean there can only be one true statement in a discussion or 
argument?  Who determines what statement is the true one and which is the 
false one and on what is that decision based?  And just whose rhetoric is it 
they are learning to convey?

Wilson says that Logos and NSA, above all else, teach the art of reasoning 
and thinking.  It is his belief that if a person can learn OLD Latin and 
Greek, they can learn to reason.

My confusion is, why is Garfield the principal of a school that Wilson 
"co-founded" and yet they seemingly are at opposite ends of the reason for 
teaching in the "classical manner"?  It appears as if one is saying "learn 
by rote but don't learn why" and the other is saying "learn to think, 
grasshopper, by learning old languages."

I am also at a loss as to why CBN failed to notify the public that the 
"teachers" are NOT graduates from any kind of educational program or don't 
have even a BA in Education much less any kind of degree in their subject 
area; such as Mrs. Garfield for example, teaching Latin.  Does she in fact 
have a degree in that language or is she teaching only what she is told 
something means or what she reads in one of Wilson's books?

Wilson specifically notes that he feels that he was cheated in HIS 
education; yet, he has an MA (?) from the UI.  To be fair, Garfield has an 
education degree, but seemingly does not feel that his "teachers" need that 
same kind of training.  Was he also cheated in his education?  If so, how?  
Wilson doesn't explain how he was cheated, just that he was.  (I am sure Jim 
Wilson is pleased to know his son feels like his parents did such a lousy 
job of raising him.  Proud moment, I'm sure.)

The report states that Logos has had 25 National Merit Semi-finalists, 
"per-capita the highest in Idaho and averages 35% higher on the year-end 
achievement tests."  I am not sure where they get their figures as they are 
not backed up by any proof outside of Wilson's saying it is so.  It could be 
these are true statements, but why don't they back it up?

Wilson says that they accept "average kids from average American 
families"...not one of them is black, indian, oriental, gay, 
handicapped...so what is the definition of the "average American families"?

The narrator goes on to state there are over 160 Logos schools here and 
abroad...oh yeah? They have international schools now, do they?  In what 
countries?  The Logos site states "Logos School sells many of its 
administrative and curriculum materials to sister schools and other people 
around the United States" - not ONE mention of international or "abroad" 
schools anywhere.

It is also stated in the report that 250 students have graduated from Logos; 
yet their own site says they "have graduated hundreds of students since" 
1985.  Nit picky perhaps, but 250 vs. "hundreds" is not "conveying" the same 
thing.

Of course, CBN did not bother to mention the fact that Logos is out of 
compliance with its non-profit status, or that Wilson is the writer of such 
trash as his "Slavery" book, or that he is a "pseudo-confederate" (NOT a 
neo-confederate"!), that HE is a tax-evader, or that he has authorized the 
illegal building up of businesses in improperly zoned areas, or his troubles 
with gambling, or Garfield's lying to the County during a public hearing 
about Logos, etc.

I'm sorry, but a report based solely on Wilson's and/or Garfield's bragging 
just isn't much of a report and CBN should be ashamed of its lack of 
investigation of this "school", Garfield and Wilson.


J  :{)

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