Leaving Johnny Behind

During my 35 years as a teacher and principal in an economically depressed area, I witnessed firsthand the scourge we inflict upon our most vulnerable citizens because we failed to provide them with adequate literacy ability. In many cases this lack of an essential skill has been a death warrant to those who might otherwise have led productive lives and contributed meaningfully to society. Too many of our most promising youngsters turn to gangs and drugs because their literacy inadequacies essentially rob them of their freedom to make wiser choices.

Teachers Deserve Legitimate Training

In a March 9th article in Education Week, ("Better Educated Teachers Needed for Early Ed") Stephen Sawchuk questions the results of a study by the National Institute for Early Education Research because no effect size is given.

If the relationship between teacher credentials and student achievement remains murky, it is probably because the training required to procure such credentials remains seriously flawed. This is especially true in the arena of literacy instruction where teacher preparation institutions have long ignored the most viable data and continued along a path proven to be woefully inadequate for those at greatest risk of reading failure.

This victimizes children but also teachers since they are assigned a disproportionate share of the blame, not only for reading failure, but also for school failure in general.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/43647802.html