Responding to a message by Dan, to Charles on ...
DT>Interesting stuff....has some political underpinnings as well.  The 
DT>religious right is behind much of the controversy.  At least they 
DT>have their hands in the debate....
Interestingly enough, there is probably no one writing in this echo more 
distant from the "religious right" than I am.  Our local superintendent 
of schools once referred to me as a "relic of 60's liberalism" and indeed, I 
am a real left-winger.
HOWEVER, my view of education, after 27 years of teaching and watching 
educational fads come and go, is that our educational systems ought to 
be based on research - sound research that starts with a small study, 
graduates to a medium sized study, and finally becomes a large study.  
We ought not use techniques and materials that can't be proven to work 
over and over again.
Every day that we use our children as guinea pigs is another day lost.  
In my opinion, whole language is a fad whose success has not been proven 
and therefore may be costing a lot of our children an opportunity to 
become outstanding readers and thinkers.  I know you feel differently, 
but Great Britain, California and many other nations and states are 
backing away from whole language as quickly as they can - the evidence 
against it is mounting.
Chuck Beams
Fidonet - 1:2608/70
cbeams@future.dreamscape.com
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* UniQWK #5290* A friend in need is a pest indeed...
--- Maximus 2.01wb
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