Born in the UK half-way through WW2 and growing up in a poor fatherless family, I taught myself to read before starting school. The teaching methods in those days were what you advocate now. My main reading issue was teachers not believing me - e.g, at one time nine students who were at least reasonable readers were put in a corridor (our school was an ex- WW2 army base) and given a particular book to read. I read it, and soon finished. What to do? The others said "Read it again." So I read it again. 3-4 others finished towards the end of the session, the rest didn't . The teacher asked who had finished, when I said I;d read it twice i was abused for lying! Similar things happened throughout my schooldays. So it's not only the slow- or non-readers who need some thought.
Thanks Steven. In a paper I wrote recently I observed that the goal of progressive education was individual educational flourishing, but progressive education methods have been shown to lead to the exact opposite. Even political progressives should reconsider the means-ends confusion.
Excellent point. Good intentions are not enough to ensure educational success. I am sure that Doctor Itard would've preferred Victor to have learned to speak and read. At least Itard had the excuse of not having the data that are available to us today. Those who continue to ignore the data not only have no excuse, they are inexcusable.
Born in the UK half-way through WW2 and growing up in a poor fatherless family, I taught myself to read before starting school. The teaching methods in those days were what you advocate now. My main reading issue was teachers not believing me - e.g, at one time nine students who were at least reasonable readers were put in a corridor (our school was an ex- WW2 army base) and given a particular book to read. I read it, and soon finished. What to do? The others said "Read it again." So I read it again. 3-4 others finished towards the end of the session, the rest didn't . The teacher asked who had finished, when I said I;d read it twice i was abused for lying! Similar things happened throughout my schooldays. So it's not only the slow- or non-readers who need some thought.
Thanks Steven. In a paper I wrote recently I observed that the goal of progressive education was individual educational flourishing, but progressive education methods have been shown to lead to the exact opposite. Even political progressives should reconsider the means-ends confusion.
Excellent point. Good intentions are not enough to ensure educational success. I am sure that Doctor Itard would've preferred Victor to have learned to speak and read. At least Itard had the excuse of not having the data that are available to us today. Those who continue to ignore the data not only have no excuse, they are inexcusable.