Someone wrote that democracy is like washing the dishes.
Having just finished reading, "Freedom for the Thought We Hate, A Biography of the First Amendment" by Anthony Lewis that phrase came back to my mind.
Democracy is never an "accomplished" goal. We must never stop washing the dishes.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Moment the Decoding Works for a Child
Today the five year old just turned six year old in my life had that joyful moment of realizing that decoding works.
I created a "secret codebook" for his older brother when he was six and the younger one immediately wanted one.
Today he brought it to the table and went through the phonemes, you know, like -at, -up, -it and with concentration he added the consonant sounds at the beginning. "b, b, b"....."at"......bat! The look of excitement on his face realizing he read a word by himself, heart warming to witness.
But he wasn't satisfied with reading the word "right", he wanted the definition, he used it in a sentence and he would remark on other words he thought sounded similar to the word he was working on.
He loved having a conversation about the English language.
I created a "secret codebook" for his older brother when he was six and the younger one immediately wanted one.
Today he brought it to the table and went through the phonemes, you know, like -at, -up, -it and with concentration he added the consonant sounds at the beginning. "b, b, b"....."at"......bat! The look of excitement on his face realizing he read a word by himself, heart warming to witness.
But he wasn't satisfied with reading the word "right", he wanted the definition, he used it in a sentence and he would remark on other words he thought sounded similar to the word he was working on.
He loved having a conversation about the English language.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Excerpts from Illiteracy Article by Ronald Nash
Found on the internet from:
The Three Kinds of Illiteracy
Ronald Nash
Just five percent of seventeen-year-old high school students can read well enough to understand and use information found in technical materials, literary essays, and historical documents."[2] Imagine then how hopeless it is to get the other 95 percent to read Plato or Dante -- or the Bible. "Barely six percent of them," Finn continues, "can solve multi-step math problems and use basic algebra."[3] We're not talking difficult math here but rather something as elementary as calculating simple interest on a loan.
Illiteracy this extensive is virtually unprecedented in America's history. Eighty years ago, in 1910, only 2.2 percent of American children between the ages of ten and fourteen could neither read nor write. It is important to remember that the illiteracy of 1910 reflected for the most part children who never had the advantage of schooling. The illiterates of today, however, are not people who never went to school; they are, for the most part, individuals who have spent eight to twelve years in public schools.
Clearly incompetence of this magnitude is not the result of accident. A large part of the blame rests with the educational establishment itself, the very people and institutions entrusted with the task of educating America's children.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that many of our public school teachers are themselves woefully under-educated. In 1983, for example, school teachers in Houston, Texas were required to take a competency test. More than 60 percent of the teachers failed the reading part of the test. Forty-six percent failed the math section while 26 percent could not pass the writing exam. As if this weren't bad enough, 763 of the more than 3,000 teachers taking the test cheated.
The Three Kinds of Illiteracy
Ronald Nash
Just five percent of seventeen-year-old high school students can read well enough to understand and use information found in technical materials, literary essays, and historical documents."[2] Imagine then how hopeless it is to get the other 95 percent to read Plato or Dante -- or the Bible. "Barely six percent of them," Finn continues, "can solve multi-step math problems and use basic algebra."[3] We're not talking difficult math here but rather something as elementary as calculating simple interest on a loan.
Illiteracy this extensive is virtually unprecedented in America's history. Eighty years ago, in 1910, only 2.2 percent of American children between the ages of ten and fourteen could neither read nor write. It is important to remember that the illiteracy of 1910 reflected for the most part children who never had the advantage of schooling. The illiterates of today, however, are not people who never went to school; they are, for the most part, individuals who have spent eight to twelve years in public schools.
Clearly incompetence of this magnitude is not the result of accident. A large part of the blame rests with the educational establishment itself, the very people and institutions entrusted with the task of educating America's children.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that many of our public school teachers are themselves woefully under-educated. In 1983, for example, school teachers in Houston, Texas were required to take a competency test. More than 60 percent of the teachers failed the reading part of the test. Forty-six percent failed the math section while 26 percent could not pass the writing exam. As if this weren't bad enough, 763 of the more than 3,000 teachers taking the test cheated.
Reading stats from 1995 and 2005 A Significant Decrease
I still have been looking for literacy stats after 1973. I found this on "The Nation's Report Card":
"Executive Summary: Reading Results for Grade 12
Reading performance declines for all but top performer
The percentage of students performing at or above Basic decreased from 80 percent in 1992 to 73 percent in 2005, and the percentage of students performing at or above the Proficient level decreased from 40 to 35 percent.
Retrieving information from a highly detailed document is an example of the knowledge and skills demonstrated by students performing at the Basic level.
Making a critical judgment about a detailed document and explaining their reasoning is an example of the knowledge and skills associated with students’ performance at the Proficient level."
"Executive Summary: Reading Results for Grade 12
Reading performance declines for all but top performer
The percentage of students performing at or above Basic decreased from 80 percent in 1992 to 73 percent in 2005, and the percentage of students performing at or above the Proficient level decreased from 40 to 35 percent.
Retrieving information from a highly detailed document is an example of the knowledge and skills demonstrated by students performing at the Basic level.
Making a critical judgment about a detailed document and explaining their reasoning is an example of the knowledge and skills associated with students’ performance at the Proficient level."
Over Heard at the Park
Three siblings were having some conflict. After a bit of unsuccessful intervention by their mother, mom said, "Do I have to do another team building exersize with you?"
"No, mom" one child said. Another said, "Please not another three legged race."
It's interesting how anything can be turned into punishment.
Like "time out". Time out started in the 70's and it was for parents to count to 10 to enable them to calm down.
Now it is often use as a threat, a form of punishment.
"No, mom" one child said. Another said, "Please not another three legged race."
It's interesting how anything can be turned into punishment.
Like "time out". Time out started in the 70's and it was for parents to count to 10 to enable them to calm down.
Now it is often use as a threat, a form of punishment.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Child Care Rules, Unions and their Use of Language
Parents will want to have some beginning information to consider how and why a union is involved with their child care decisions.
SEIU's (Service Employee International Union) winning streak of sticking a needle in the arm of taxpayers and pumping out funds endlessly ended in May/June 2008.
SEIU stuck the needle in the taxpayer through the family home and in-home child care providers two years previously with what euphemistically was called "collective bargaining".
Creatively, they used language to create the impression that 10,000 providers wanted that "unionizing". The number was closer to 2,000. Big difference, ey?
Now a "Negotiated Rule Making" process has been painfully going on for at least two years (I'll have to check my dates). A process that at the most takes a year keeps stretching out. It's simply a process to review and up-date regulations for "the healthy, safety and the well-being" of your child in licensed care while you work.
It's a public meeting but has been run more like a private club.
Even their own SEIU members are not told that it is a public meeting. They don't even ask for the rank and file members to weigh, not even those 2,000.
SEIU announces today on their website about the August 9, 2008 Negotiated Rule Making Meeting and then wrote:
"Open to elected Negotiated Rule Making members."
It's open to the public but SEIU hides this lawful fact from their own rank and file.
Then on another page of the SEIU website today:
"Help us hold our elected officials accountable! If they've made promises to our members and broken those promises, there will be consequences!
Join us at 9 AM (on August 17, 2008) (ends by 1 PM) for snacks & training - locations around the state to be announced soon; please hold the date!"
It now appears that SEIU using money pumped out of taxpayers' veins plan to attack the senators and state representatives for stopping the blood letting.
Meanwhile it has been thoroughly documented of SEIU's verbal and written attacks against the lone parent voice on the Negotiated Rule Making committee.
These actions by SEI in my observations and opinion have little to do with the "health, safety and well-being of the child in licensed care."
As the targeting and attacks unfold this blog will post the information as to which senators and representatives are being targeted.
SEIU's (Service Employee International Union) winning streak of sticking a needle in the arm of taxpayers and pumping out funds endlessly ended in May/June 2008.
SEIU stuck the needle in the taxpayer through the family home and in-home child care providers two years previously with what euphemistically was called "collective bargaining".
Creatively, they used language to create the impression that 10,000 providers wanted that "unionizing". The number was closer to 2,000. Big difference, ey?
Now a "Negotiated Rule Making" process has been painfully going on for at least two years (I'll have to check my dates). A process that at the most takes a year keeps stretching out. It's simply a process to review and up-date regulations for "the healthy, safety and the well-being" of your child in licensed care while you work.
It's a public meeting but has been run more like a private club.
Even their own SEIU members are not told that it is a public meeting. They don't even ask for the rank and file members to weigh, not even those 2,000.
SEIU announces today on their website about the August 9, 2008 Negotiated Rule Making Meeting and then wrote:
"Open to elected Negotiated Rule Making members."
It's open to the public but SEIU hides this lawful fact from their own rank and file.
Then on another page of the SEIU website today:
"Help us hold our elected officials accountable! If they've made promises to our members and broken those promises, there will be consequences!
Join us at 9 AM (on August 17, 2008) (ends by 1 PM) for snacks & training - locations around the state to be announced soon; please hold the date!"
It now appears that SEIU using money pumped out of taxpayers' veins plan to attack the senators and state representatives for stopping the blood letting.
Meanwhile it has been thoroughly documented of SEIU's verbal and written attacks against the lone parent voice on the Negotiated Rule Making committee.
These actions by SEI in my observations and opinion have little to do with the "health, safety and well-being of the child in licensed care."
As the targeting and attacks unfold this blog will post the information as to which senators and representatives are being targeted.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Is the Governor's Child Care Licensing Agency Schmoozing the Media?
Is the media critically thinking through what the government feeds them for a story? What is the media's responsibility to carefully review information before going with the story?
King 5 reported this week that parents are now better informed that transparency has been improved as the child care licensing agency DEL (The Department of Early Learning) now scans in the "Facility Licensing Compliance Agreements" into their website.
The most vital information the Governor's office (its Christine Gregoire's agency now) does not give are the child protective services (CPS) investigations.
Most important for parents to know is that the department has allowed providers and facilities with "founded" CPS charges to keep their licenses.
The parent will not find "CPS" information on the Governor's child care licensing website.
The website even tells you that.
Additionally, in direct violation of law (RCW) the parent is not notified of the licensed child care providers and facilities that are currently in denial, suspension or revocation action.
Parents will not find the names child care providers or facilities who had their licenses denied, revoked or suspended.
Both of those are required by law.
Some parents could be using these providers (who sometimes continue to then provide unlicensed care).
King 5 reported this week that parents are now better informed that transparency has been improved as the child care licensing agency DEL (The Department of Early Learning) now scans in the "Facility Licensing Compliance Agreements" into their website.
The most vital information the Governor's office (its Christine Gregoire's agency now) does not give are the child protective services (CPS) investigations.
Most important for parents to know is that the department has allowed providers and facilities with "founded" CPS charges to keep their licenses.
The parent will not find "CPS" information on the Governor's child care licensing website.
The website even tells you that.
Additionally, in direct violation of law (RCW) the parent is not notified of the licensed child care providers and facilities that are currently in denial, suspension or revocation action.
Parents will not find the names child care providers or facilities who had their licenses denied, revoked or suspended.
Both of those are required by law.
Some parents could be using these providers (who sometimes continue to then provide unlicensed care).
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
How Children Learn to Read, a Lesson from the 17th Century
Thomas Tryon advises how to teach children to read and write in England in the late 17th Century:
"At a year and a half, or two years old show them their letters, not troubling them in the vulgar way, with asking them what is this letter, or that word, but instead thereof, make frequent repetitions in their hearing, putting the letters in their sight. And thus in a little time, they will easily and familiarly learn to distinguish the twenty-four letters, all as they learn the utensils, goods, and furniture of the house, by hearing the family name them. At the same time, teach your children to hold the pen, and guide theirs hand; and by this method, your children, unaccountably to themselves, will attain to read and write at three, four and five years old....."
In America
1790 literacy rate was 90% (women's was 45%)
1840 rate - between 93 -100%
1940 rate - 96% for Whites - 80% for Blacks
1951 rate - 81%
1973 rate - 73%
I am having trouble finding the most recent literacy rates. I'll post when I find.
"At a year and a half, or two years old show them their letters, not troubling them in the vulgar way, with asking them what is this letter, or that word, but instead thereof, make frequent repetitions in their hearing, putting the letters in their sight. And thus in a little time, they will easily and familiarly learn to distinguish the twenty-four letters, all as they learn the utensils, goods, and furniture of the house, by hearing the family name them. At the same time, teach your children to hold the pen, and guide theirs hand; and by this method, your children, unaccountably to themselves, will attain to read and write at three, four and five years old....."
In America
1790 literacy rate was 90% (women's was 45%)
1840 rate - between 93 -100%
1940 rate - 96% for Whites - 80% for Blacks
1951 rate - 81%
1973 rate - 73%
I am having trouble finding the most recent literacy rates. I'll post when I find.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)