Educators - Reading - Editorial

Much fun has been made of the Dick & Jane books. Meantime, everyone learned to read. I am tired of reading and listening to those who have agendas - vis-a-vis whole language versus phonics. It's time for some common sense.

Forget the foolish argument between phonics and whole language. It isn't one or the other. It's both. Please read Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue for insights into our language. English was, is, and hopefully will always be a wonderfully flexible language - pulling in all that suits the situation. One penalty we pay for this extreme adaptability is the need for a wide range of teaching tools.

English is a language of exceptions. However, there is an acceptable manner of speaking  and writing. Listening to well-spoken English, and reading well-written English are essential to becoming an educated speaker of English.

Therefore extreme singular positions won't do.  We need both phonics and whole language plus a third element that no one discusses. Oral teaching. Otherwise, how do you explain to your students the pronunciation of passage and massage; pave and have; hose and lose; ton and yon. Memorization has been sorely neglected. Reading aloud is o.k. but memorizing sticks. So let's stop taking extremist positions. Use it all.

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