James M. Smith wrote:
> I started public school when I was six years old. That was in 1941. By
> the middle of that first year all in the class were reading about Dick
> and Jane and Spot and a ball. Granted, it wasn't a text from the Space
> Sciences Laboratory at Berkeley, but it was reading none the less. By
> the end of my second year in school we had all progressed to the point
> that we could read a local news paper and understand all but a few of
> the words. We each had a subscription to the "Weekly Ready." (paid for
> by our far from effluent
------------------^^^^^^^^
I take it this is a joke?

D.

> parents not the school)  We were required to
> read it in its entirety and give a verbal report on a topic there from
> every week. The story goes on...
>
> My question for the readers is this: "Why are we seeing such news as I
> have pasted below about our public schools today when more than
> sixty-five years ago kids could read well before they were 9?"
>
> 			*************
>
> THE CRISIS OF CHILD ILLITERACY
>
> In Southern California, four out of five third-graders cannot read at
> grade level. Research shows that children who fail to read by the age
> of nine rarely catch up later. In many cases, these children may never
> be able to realize their full potential or contribute and participate
> fully in our society.
>
> In 1998, the Los Angeles Times launched Reading by 9 in Los Angeles,
> Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Reading by 9
> is a multi-year campaign aimed at helping kindergarten through
> third-grade students read at grade level by the age of nine.
>
> Working with parents, educators, business and civic leaders and
> community organizations, The Times is serving as a catalyst to focus
> public attention on the crisis of child illiteracy. In addition, The
> Times is using its leadership and influence to promote public-private
> partnerships to improve children's reading skills.
>
> http://www.latimes.com/extras/readingby9/



--- UseNet To RIME Gateway {at} 4/1/05 4:47:49 AM ---