The American high school graduate is two years behind his English, French or German counterpart; in Alabama, God knows how far behind.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the educational shortcomings of American high school graduates compared to their peers in Europe, particularly emphasizing disparities in Alabama.
Gore Vidal's quote addresses the significant gap in educational achievement between American high school graduates and those in countries like England, France, and Germany. It suggests that American students, particularly in states like Alabama, are not receiving the same quality or quantity of education, thereby lacking critical skills and knowledge that are essential in today's global society. This commentary on the education system raises awareness about regional disparities and the need for improvement in the American education curriculum.
In practice
In a speech about educational reform, I mentioned, 'As Gore Vidal said, the American high school graduate is two years behind his peers in Europe.'
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American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.
Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.
The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
For the average American, freedom of speech is simply the freedom to repeat what everyone else is saying and no more.
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Honour your daughters, trust them and most importantly, educate them.
A good day is one where I can not just read a book, but write a review of it. Maybe today I'll be able to do that. I get for some reason somewhat stronger when the sun starts to go down. Dusk is a good time for me. I'm crepuscular.
whenever I read a passage that moves me, I transcribe it in my diary, hoping my fingers might learn what excellence feels like.
A teacher who establishes rapport with the taught, becomes one with them, learns more from them than he teaches them. He who learns nothing from his disciples is, in my opinion, worthless. Whenever I talk with someone I learn from him. I take from him more than I give him.
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