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.