| ‘Teachers
Will Not Subject Children to Phonics Drills’
Massachusetts News Staff
January 5--The reading
wars are not over, according to Kenneth Goodman, the father of whole language.
He recently published In Defense of Good Teaching which is actually
a treatise in defense of whole language. Following are some excerpts from
his book.
Teachers’ willingness to incorporate phonics instruction:
"These teachers will not willingly subject kindergarten
and first grade children to phonics drills."
Supporters of phonics:
"Those who fear whole language have seriously underestimated
the professionalism of whole language teachers. And they have seriously
overestimated the ability of laws to force change on any North American
teachers."
Whole language is being kept alive:
"Already administrators have become nervous about
using the term ‘whole language,’ substituting euphemisms or dubbing their
programs ‘balanced.’"
Whole language will respond to widespread criticism:
"The effect of the attacks [on whole language] will
be limited. Without the coercion of laws and board mandates there is little
chance of converting the core of teachers who have identified with whole
language."
The role of new texts:
"Even changing the textbooks will not dislodge the
changes that whole language has brought. Too many teachers are now aware
that they can teach without basals and texts. They know, without seeing
the NAEP data, that having kids silently read real literature of their
own choosing is much more effective than following the sequenced skills
and tortured texts of the basal [readers used in conjunction with phonics
instruction]."
Response of teachers in classrooms to new laws
and curriculums:
"American Teachers will do what they have always
done – close their doors and keep doing what they believe in."
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