In a message to Ron McDermott you wrote:
-> I did not mean to imply that kids would not learn to read, but only
-> that they would not have to.
They will have to learn to read! Any illiterate child will be at an
extreme disadvantage.
-> I think in the near future they will be taught to read by computer
-> without actually having to learn to read.
Computers cannot substitute for human interaction. Learning reading
from a computer only sounds very sterile.
-> The learn to visually read signs at a very early age, and I think
-> with the help of computers with voice capabilities, the need for a
-> Reading class will be a thing of the past. Hopefully with it will go
-> phonics and basal readers.
While visual reading clues are important, they are only one of several
"decoding" skills that good readers use. Phonics are another very useful
"decoding" skill, and any program that denies its reading students
instruction in phonics is crippling their reading skills. I don't know
that I would advocate phonics as the primary, or sole, method of
instruction for beginning reading. But it certainly has its place as
_one_ component of a reading program.
Sheila
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