RON MCDERMOTT spoke of Research And More...  2/ to DAN TRIPLETT on 12-14-
96
RM>DT>with the exception that I am probably more easily swayed by those 
RM>DT>that I regard as more knowledgeable in my field.  
RM>That's fair enough... Actually, this discussion has 
RM>catalyzed my reasons for concern with things like the theory 
RM>of evolution; it is an inferential conclusion and has not,
RM>to my knowledge, been scientifically established. I don't
RM>mean to get into this particular debate, simply wished to
RM>use this as an example in the context of our discussion.. 
I see you point and agree here.  By the way...the above should have read 
...."with the exception that I am probably more easily swayed by those 
that I regard as more knowledgeable _than_ _myself_ in my field."  I 
clarify this because the first sentence could be interpreted as "me 
being swayed by those I regard as more knowledgeable than you (or others 
who frequent this forum) and I didn't want to imply that.  I think that 
the many points made in the past few months regarding WL and Invented 
Spelling were points that have represented well the opposing view.  I 
was not very familiar with the "other side of the coin."  I still 
believe in WL and think that the theories supporting it are correct and 
still believe that Invented Spelling is very appropriate for early 
writers.  The question that I now have is one of uniformity of WL 
practice.  Not that I think it can be canned...I don't.  But teachers 
shouldn't be deciding for themselves what is and is not WL (such as the 
teaching of phonics).  
I also have a changing attitude toward the "traditional" teacher.  I 
have examined my attitude very closely and although I don't think I 
could comfortably teach purely traditional, I think that there are many 
fine teachers who still employ traditional approaches and their style of 
teaching is very effective.  I think that teaching is basically a very 
difficult job.  It is difficult just to do average.  (as opposed to it 
would be easy to do a poor job)  It takes dedication and determination 
to rise above the daily challenges and many teachers, if not most, rise 
up, again and again, to meet those challenges head on.  I see this type 
of attitude and perseverance in those I work with.  We have a hard-
working, dedicated staff.  From a philosophical point of view, I may see 
things differently (traditional vrs WL//child-centered vrs teacher 
centered) but from the everyday grunt and grind, we're on the same team.
I feeling too pensive.....gotta go watch a football game or something..
Dan        
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