Transcript of ©1981 4R's Academic Melhod Inc.
TO
Published by the 4R'S Academic Method, Inc. (International) P.O.
Box 5809 Sarasota, FL 33579 USA ©1981 4R's Academic Melhod
Inc.
FOR YOU N G P E 0 P LEO N L Y The first question we must ask is:
Are you young enough to read and understand this letter ? For 15
years, we've been running a school on board two large sailing
ships, TeVega and teQuest, sailing side by side, from the Amazon
River, the West Indies, Bahamas and Bermuda, to the Fjords of
Norway, and to the Greek Islands, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal,
England, Hol- land, Sweden and Germany! Right now as I'm writing
this, the two school ships are tied alongside the dock in
Copenhagen, Denmark. (Stop reading for a minute and look in your
family's Atlas for a map of the Western Hemisphere that shows
America and Europe on each side of the Atlantic Ocean. Trace with
your finger where we have sailed. (You do have an Atlas in your
house, don't you?) We've sailed through all that ocean through
all
r"\ those years with maybe 700 kids as students and crew, so we can
safely say, "We know kids!" We know what they're
- really like, under pressure - under hard working condi- tions -
having fun - tackling the school books - when they're seasick - on
their free time - when they have to wash the dishes - and when
they're wakened in the middle of the night to stand watch !
When we'd sail into a port we wanted to learn about, we'd anchor or
tie up at the dock side by side. As soon as our ships were secure,
we'd have classes - some on deck - some inside depending on the
weather. They were regular academic classes just as you have except
that we took lots of trips around the countries, shopping in the
markets, visiting the museums, meeting the people.
In the warm waters from the Caribbean to Bermuda, it was fun to
jump overboard for a Phys.Ed. class swim and also to water-ski
around the bay in which we were anchored. The students were the
ships' only crew, and they learned fast. With this way of going to
school we all saw and learned! Boy, did we learn! Far more than
most people do by sitting in classrooms reading books and looking
at pic- tures. Of course, we worked a lot harder too, and we loved
it because it taught us how to act and live a lot "smarter" than we
had before we came on board the ships. Kids always told us on their
return after Christmas va- cations how little their "old friends
back home" really knew about what was going on in the world. They
were also surprised at how many grown-ups enjoyed talking
~,with them. People seemed to recognize how our shipboard students
had learned to think intelligently and how aware they were.
Grown-ups have an expression, "We get too soon old and too late
smart." Ask your parents if they've ever felt
that way. What our students did was to get smart a lot faster -
before they got too old to learn and enjoy the exciting things in
this world. What we discovered was that getting old is a condition
people find themselves in when they no longer get excited about
what it is they are doing and learning. It's true, when people
don't want to learn, don't want to explore, don't want to have
adventures, don't enjoy life -- that is old age!
Every day, every week, every month we were tackling new adventures
- seeing, reading, learning about things we'd never known before.
If excitement about learning is young, you'd have to say that each
of us on board got younger every year.
We had some kids on board who acted as though they were a couple
hundred years old! They didn't want to do anything. Just talked
about what they used to do "back home." Those things seemed pretty
dumb: cruising around the hamburger lot, smoking pot - hash,
drinking, doing things they thought were really grown-up. They
didn't know what "grown-up" meant. Maybe that's not too hard to
understand because we've sure met a lot of adults who never did
grow up either. Sure, they got older but never grew UP. They're not
ex- citing, they're not curious, they don't like to take risks,
they always want to know exactly what tomorrow is going to be like.
But, that's not the way you want to live your life! This is what we
meant when we asked you if you were young enough to read this
letter. Lots of kids younger than you are probably are too old to
read and understand it because their brains are dead - dead and
buried - under a lot of junk and embarrassment.
We didn't all come over on the same ship, but we're all in the same
boat. 1
Have you noticed that some people are too embarrassed to ask
questions? They have to act as if they know it all? It's true.
They're too "old" because they're afraid. Afraid that if they ask a
question, someone listening will think that they're dumb and don't
know anything.
Meanwhile, back at school, we were doing so many new things we'd
never done before in countries we'd never visited that we didn't
want to make any mistakes, so we asked lots of questions and, you
guessed it, we got in the habit of asking 10ts-oI questions. We
learned a great deal that way. Mostly we learned it was much bet-
ter to ask a dumb question than make a dumb mistake !
Now, you who are "young" enough to read this letter may have to
read it to your younger brothers and sisters. You might even have
to explain some things to them, too. Remember, they may be "older"
and embarrassed to ask questions, and if you embarrass them they
won't want tG learn from you, so you'll have to explain things very
carefully in such a way that you can be proud of your- self for
being a good teacher. A favorite "teacher" of ours, named Alexander
Pope, explained it this way:
"Things must be taught as if you taught them not. And things
unknown proposed as things forgot."
There will be subjects in this letter you may find unu- sual. Some
of what we write may really be fore your older brothers or sisters
- so they may be able to ex- plain some of the ideas to you! Some
letters you may even want to share with your friends. Ask you
parents to make a Xerox copy of this letter for you to keep. Then
your parents can keep the ones we mailed to them in their book.
Have you noticed this is not a comic book? It's written for people
who want to learn more than they want to just look at pictures.
Words help you learn to think. Comic books do not help you grow
very smart, so we will talk to you with words instead of
pictures.
Two other ideas that are important for you to understand are: This
letter, MY FUTURE, is written to you. It's not written to your
parents (although there are times when you ought to get them to
read it. They might learn something they didn't know.) It's written
to you. Just as·with the cadets on board the school ships, we're
"on your side." We'll be trying our best to explain ideas 'you
should learn in a hurry so you don't make too many dumb
mistakes.
For example, A lot of people will tell you to do some- thing or
think something they say is good. WeIT, it might be good for them,
but that does not mean it is good for you. This is where you need
to use that brain of yours in a big hurry! A lot of drug pushers
and even some politicians will tell you to do lots of things that
are good for them, perhaps, but are definitely not good for you.
So, you must constantly ask yourself, "Good for whom?" So, before
you do anything, you must make sure it's good for you.
Your parents bought a subscription to this letter as a gift for the
family so each of you can learn how to tell the difference between
ideas said to be good and ideas that might be bad for you. 2
You'll find us saying many things that your boob tube and
newspapers don't tell you. That's because your newspaper doesn't
charge a high enough price for their ~ paper to even pay for the
printing, so they sell adver- tising to make money. They can't say
anything that the media (newspaper, t.v., magazine) advertisers do
not like. Well, this letter does not have any advertising. We don't
have to be careful of what we say that others might not like. We
can and will say the things that are important to you. As long as
you want information valu- able to your side of an idea, you'll
keep reading our letter. In later issues we'll explain ways that
will help you decide if we are telling you the truth - and that's
the most important thing you have to learn! You must learn how to
tell when someone is telling you the truth, the whole truth and
nothing but the truth.
The second idea you'll find of interest is that the news presented
in the newspapers, t.V. and magazines, is selected by someone
called an editor. By selecting what he wants to tell you and
leaving out what he doesn't want you to know, he can lead you to
believe anything. He is then an editor who is not on your side. In
this way you and your friends are led to believe many things that
are just not true. It isn't your fault if your thinking is wrong if
you're never allowed to learn the whole truth about many ideas. But
starting today you had better be very careful about what you hear,
and remember that it may have been selected by someone who might
not be on your side. You can be led to believe a lot of dumb ideas
that are in fact bad for you. Good and bad editors work for what is
called the public press. Our letter is part of the private press
because it is written for our subscribers, not the public nor the
advertisers. We must tell you the truth and help you discover how
to tell what is the truth or your parents will stop paying us to
send your family the letter.
More on these issues in the next letter.
~e. 4hn~,,!: c;n.~~~~
~\\'.~
The name Elton County International Airport sounds im- pressive,
doesn't it? Well, it is. It's very impres- sive and important,
especially to its owners, Matthew and Glenn Wright. Yes, you
guessed it -- the two are known allover that area as The Wright
Brothers. Mat- thew and Glenn run a tight little Fixed Base
Operation (referred to as an FBO) at Elton County -- their most
recent step up the ladder of career success in aviation.
I When the boys were little they became hooked on planes and flying
when their mom took them to visit great- grandparents in Michigan.
That flight was on one of the first Boeing 707 jets to the big
metropolitan air- r-'\ port where they changed to a DC3 for the
short hop to the town in which their great-grandparents
lived.
The person who is too old to learn was probably always too old to
learn.
The big-eyed, excited brothers were allowed to take turns sitting
in the co-pilot's seat, to touch the wheel
~-- and were never again the same.
Gram and Gramps heard nothing else during their visit. Gramps was
delighted to be persuaded to tell the boys stories of flying during
WWI while Uncle Frank told them of an earlier set of Wright
Brothers and some of the other great pioneers of flight. The boys
were amazed! They were young enough at that time to think airplanes
had always been. They hadn't even wondered about a time when they
didn't exist -- until somebody invented them.
From that time on their sights were fixed on flying. Their parents
very wisely fed their hungers with books and experiences that
simply made the two boys hungry for more. Reading and arithmetic in
school became not the dull boring subjects that they were to some
of the kids, but important skills they mastered so they could read
and understand the instruction manuals which taught them how to
build model airplanes, taught them flight theory and for Glenn in
particular everything about the mechanics of the airplane
itself.
How the two boys came to be the owners of Elton County
International Airport and what their future plans are and how they
plan to achieve them is a continuing story in MY'FUTURE .
You have to know that Elton County isn't really an international
airport. It doesn't even have a concrete runway or a control tower,
but the boys named it that because they are the proud owners of
what to them is the finest little grass strip in the world, where a
lot of pilots hang out because they really love to fly !
/And -- you can fly from that airport to any place in the world.
You might say it's a good place for dreams to be born.
Southern Florida is a great area to live - especially for flying.
If you could ever order perfect conditions for climate, weather,
terrain -- this is it. The prob- lem is not so much getting the
grass to grow on the airstrip as it is keeping the growth back. The
strip is 3800 feet long, large enough for an occasional Aero-
Commander to grace the field with its presence -- and big enough
for now. It keeps both Matt and Glenn busy because the two of them
do everything that has to be done with the help of a few of their
young friends. The strip must be kept mowed and rolled, landscaping
to keep the place attractive, the hangar and tool areas to clean
and restrooms to maintain. All of this must be done besides the
main business of the hangar rentals, giving flying lessons, charter
flying, engine overhaul- ing and maintenance of the planes.
A short distance away from the hangar and strip is their small
attractive cottage - strictly bachelor's digs -- no frills -- with
a rambling big porch patio across the front. A big "Granny Porch
Swing" hangs at one end, half of it usually occupied by someone
you'll meet in a later episode. A number of comfortable lounge
chairs and a soft drink machine are available. The other pi- lots
enjoy hanging around for a short while, relaxing with a cool drink
and doing some "hangar flying" (swap-
~ping tales of their flying adventures) after their work- . day or
lessons. The atmosphere is pleasant at Elton
County International Airport for many reasons, some of
them celebrated boldly by the brothers Matt and Glenn with their
roadside. red, white and Wilbur
sign on the side of the hangar visible to the It is a sparkling
banner painted a colorful and blue saluting: "Let's Hear It For
Orville ! They Got The Whole Show Off The Ground !"
While the stories of these young Wright Brothers are interesting,
they are written for far more than enter- tainment because by your
understanding of the way they think out and plan their lives, each
one of you can have your own little International Airport. That is
to say - you can set your own goals, accomplish your own proj-
ects. To learn of their handicaps and challenges and how they
handle them, read of Matt's and Glenn's adven- tures each
month.
Dear Mommies,
In this first issue of MY FUTURE, I'd like to acquaint you with
some Monkey Business guaranteed to please YOUT
pre-schoolers from about 6.months old and up. Monkey Business will
be a continuing feature for the younger set and we'll begin this
month with a wonderfully sim- ple toy for you to construct that's
been around for a long time, and never goes out of style. Yes, you
get to make it, for one of its values is for your toddler to see
you making it. Children accept the world as a given and it's
important for them to become aware of the process of creation from
the time they are small. Mak- ing this dear monkey is one simple
and especially good way to help him begin. I've made them for all
my grand- children on those long transatlantic flights to and from
the school ships, TeVega and teQuest, during our opera- tion of the
Flint School. I tried to save some of the stuffing procedure and
final joining of arms, tail and legs to the body for when I was
with the baby so he could see the pieces become the whole friend
that he would love and spend so much time with.
That monkey will become your baby's favorite, the friend he will
talk to before he can form words and also when he can't confide in
anyone else. The arms are long enough to hug back and the tail is
an uncomplaining han- dle with which to drag it around. The monkeys
have been named Pemmy - Coco - Happy - Mr. Monkee - BoJo - any
number of names over the years. Your baby will find his own.
Materials may be available at your local craft store but if not,
you can easily send for the Red Heel Rockford Sock Kit which
includes one pair of socks, some brightly colored yarn and large
black snaps (for the eyes) by sending a $5.00 check (whiCh includes
postage and hand- ling) to: Cedar Mountain Trading Post - P. O. Box
228 - Cedar Mountain, North Carolina 28718.
The true worth of a man is to be measured by the goals he pursues.
3
Kent
A highlight of my own flight training was being allowed to ride in
the cockpit of an Air France flight from Florida to Martinique.
From the "jump seat" I witnessed a minor in-flight emergency,
promptly and professionally handled, of which other passengers
remained unaware. Such a pity, since 9/11, that likely never again
will a passenger be allowed this privilege...
Here are the instructions so you can see how easy it is to make one
of these soft, cuddly and machine washable toys. MATERIALS:
1.
2. One Red Heel Rockford Sock Kit (as above. Stuffing: old nylons,
cotton batting, kapok or pOlyester fiber. (I like the polyester
fiber best and it can be bought at the dime store.) Needle and
black and white thread.3.
INSTRUCTIONS: Turn Sock #1 inside out and flatten as shown in
sketch. Sew a seam on both sides 1/2 inch from the center of the
sock starting 3 inches from the white and red heel and across the
end of the top. Then cut the sock be- tween these seams to within 1
1/2 inches of the heel. This leaves an opening in the crotch. Then
turn sock right side out, stuff head, body and legs. Then close the
crotch. Arms: Cut the upper part of Sock #2 into 2 pieces as shown
according to dotted lines. Seam wrong side out, turn and stuff.
Mouth: Cut the white and red heel from Sock #2, leaving a brown
edge around the white. Fasten onto lower part of face, tightly
whipping around the bottom, stuff and sew around the top. Mouth can
be improved by back-stitching with black across the middle of the
lips. Make it smile! Tail: Cut long strip according to drawing,
stitch the length of the wrong side, turn right side out, stuff and
center on Monkey's red behind and attach firmly. Ears: Cut the ears
from the remaining brown part of the sole of Sock #2, stuff at
edges and sew on each side of Monkey's head. Eyes: Sew on buttons,
or very large black snaps. The snaps work well for the smaller
child. Embroider lashes. Cap: Cut off toe of Sock #2 leaving 1/2
inch of brown to roll for a brim. Stuff and sew to head in a jaunty
posi- tion. Cap needs a bright yarn pompon.
Sock #l~inside out, stitch on dotted lines, then cut between.
seams.
egs
Cap
Cap Sock
I dressed a Monkey once in a tiny pair of blue-jeans and a sailor
hat which my granddaughter promptly removed and threw on the floor.
She wasn't able to talk yet but she let her wishes be known by the
hugs she gave that Monkey. 4
I learned from her to keep them simple, it makes them so much
easier to love.
More about Monkey Business in the next issue.
Wi~=-~~~ H 0 0 KED ON BOOKS !GET
We did not have a boob tube aboard the ships so we read a lot of
books. Some of the kids told us it was really great, and that they
had never read a book before they came to the Flint School. Most
popular was our evening reading hour every night when we all read
the same book together taking turns out loud. Do you suppose you
could actually get your folks to sit down every night - or at least
two or three times a week - and all read the same book together as
a family? Try reading it out loud, each taking turns and stopping
to discuss certain ideas that interest you or that you don't
understand. Besides that, if you are not reading at least one book
a month, you are missing great fun! Tell you what, we will suggest
a book each month to read as a family, and also give you an idea of
some books you might like to read on your own. Consider then:
FAMILY EVENING READING HOUR. By all means, start with either The
Fire Hunter by Jim Kjelgaard or Girl Who Owned a City by O. T.
Nelson. We have already sent your parents a review of this exciting
book and it is in the~ Reading List section of their notebook. The
review is numbered "Aid to Navigation Number 2." Your job now is to
talk your parents into purchasing the book and taking time for a
family reading hour. I am sure you can talk them into it. If you
can't, write us a letter and we will fuss at your folks for not
doing it.
High Schoolers: You just have to read Robert Heinlein stories. But
let us explain to you about his books so you can help your younger
brothers and sisters. Mr. Heinlein writes books for all age people.
He is an ex- cellent writer and everyone will enjoy very much the
stories he writes for people who are younger than they are.
However, he also writes some books just for grown- ups that younger
people will not really enjoy or think make much sense. So look for
the shorter books, usually printed in larger type. Centainly you
will like very much the books written for younger people. We do and
we are a lot older than you. But I would be surprised if you
enjoyed the longer books he has written until you are in college.
To enjoy Robert Heinlein's adult books, as you certainly will in a
few years, be sure you start by reading a collection of his stories
printed in one volume entitled The Past Through Tomorrow, Future
His- tory Stories. It will help you enjoy the adult stories a lot
sooner.
Also you, too will want to read westerns by Louis La- mour. We will
have to wait for next month to suggest other titles, but this
should get you started because these have been the most popular
books on board TeVega ~ and teQuest for the past twelve
years.
More recommended books for all ages coming next month.