The Plus

I don’t think many would classify The Economist as a conservative journal, so this quote shows that the concerns about the poor quality of reading instruction in the US is not a liberal or conservative issue only. Everyone, regardless of politics, is impacted and people from both sides of the aisle are beginning to finally wake up. In fact, even magazines published by overseas organizations like The Economist can see it.

Why do so many teachers and Ed. School Professors cling to outdated and ineffective ways to teach reading such as the currently named “Balanced Literacy,” which is just a mix mash of an ineffective dab of phonics with lots of outdated ideas like Whole Language reading added in to mess it all up for students?

The Economist says:

“Balanced literacy continues today as a political compromise among teachers and administrators.”

 Got that, its about political compromises instead of educators taking the time to learn what scientific research shows really works best and then using it to teach our kids. Basically, it’s just another adherence to the status quo so prevalent in education.

And, don’t think the problem isn’t present in Kentucky. If you are laboring under that incorrect notion, I recommend reading our new report, “What Milton Wright knew about reading instruction, but lots of teachers apparently don’t.”

Find out how Wright knew the “Right Stuff” about reading way back in 1916 while over a century later – with the Bluegrass State’s NAEP Grade 4 Reading proficiency rates running only a miserable 14% for Black students, for example – many Kentucky teachers clearly don’t.