tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post4895233847318278190..comments2024-03-26T14:44:37.985-04:00Comments on D-Ed Reckoning: Kozloff on Reading FirstKDeRosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06853211164976890091noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-72261258258083971622008-03-25T16:01:00.000-04:002008-03-25T16:01:00.000-04:00Alessi's study was not of teachers, but of school ...Alessi's study was not of teachers, but of school psychologists.<BR/><BR/>Here's an article about it:<BR/><A HREF="http://www.nldline.com/pamwright.htm" REL="nofollow">The Blame Game</A><BR/><BR/>Likely teacher attitudes would be similar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-77141790893594618712008-03-24T15:00:00.000-04:002008-03-24T15:00:00.000-04:00Spedvet says: "They [educators] blame any lack of...Spedvet says: "They [educators] blame any lack of outcome on social justice issues, the parents, or even the child's lack of innate ability. They never blame themselves, much less take a look at what they are doing first."<BR/><BR/>This reminds me of study completed several years ago by a professor at Western Michigan, Galen Alessi. Educators were asked about the causes for student failure. Answers ranged from low IQ, poor family conditions, lack of resources, etc.--everything except lack of educator skill. <BR/>It would be interesting to do the study again, but this time compare Reading First teachers with non-reading first teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-57486434614340744772008-03-10T21:19:00.000-04:002008-03-10T21:19:00.000-04:00redkudu said..."this is not the argument that is g...redkudu said...<BR/><BR/>"this is not the argument that is going to help convince educators to change their ways..."<BR/><BR/>Arguments will never persuade educators to change their ways. Why? Because educators are not the sort of "professionals" who subject their craft to peer scrutiny and scientific scrutiny. Educators are not about sifting through the valid vs. fallacious arguments; they are about what feels good and what sounds right, above all else - logic and science be damned.<BR/><BR/>Educators see themselves as people working hard within the hand of cards they are dealt. They blame any lack of outcome on social justice issues, the parents, or even the child's lack of innate ability. They never blame themselves, much less take a look at what they are doing first. However they are paradoxically the first to take credit for student success. These are the basic tenets of educatorship that most all educators learn in ed school.<BR/><BR/>There are some exceptions, certainly. But we give educators too much wholesale credit for being the "experts" on teaching children. Most educators don't know a thing about teaching -- they know what they have figured out to do as working the best for them, under the mentorship of others that have learned how to educate in the same fashion.Spedvethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03059941547661456333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-22304236863885383202008-03-10T21:08:00.000-04:002008-03-10T21:08:00.000-04:00I love Professor Plum. He realizes that government...I love Professor Plum. He realizes that government education has failed and that ed schools are, as Stotsky has written, the shame of the nation. Nothing can change either ed schools or government schools until the public education monopoly and the state certification monopoly for teacher certification are broken. Until then, most of us in the reading field will focus our efforts to improve students' reading skills and teachers' teaching (of reading) skills on endeavors outside of the field of education.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-26470649197185286202008-03-10T03:46:00.000-04:002008-03-10T03:46:00.000-04:00If the kid has the vocabulary to swear with words ...If the kid has the vocabulary to swear with words like "smarmy" and "arrogant" then at least something about his education is going well!Robert Sperryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00947778813690974327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-27533065005486370082008-03-09T18:59:00.000-04:002008-03-09T18:59:00.000-04:00Wow. This is some ugly stuff. At first I agreed ...Wow. This is some ugly stuff. At first I agreed with your anonymous commentor - why would we want more people to read this? I actually mused on it for 2 days. Then I thought it might be important, especially for teachers like me who are trying to change what little we can from within, that we do see even the ugliest of criticisms, if only to be aware of gross misrepresentations which fuel fallacious arguments and emotion-laden screeds that distract from concrete, effective debate which might actually affect change.<BR/><BR/>It is so, so difficult not to get emotional about education issues, and yet so important to keep a sense of decorum - this is not the argument that is going to help convince educators to change their ways, and that is where education critics and proponents of change can receive a great deal of support which actually directly impacts students, if the arguments are made well enough for teacher buy-in. I've seen it happen. Actually, I'm living proof. :)Redkuduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756085609311571044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-78811254806157246062008-03-09T13:12:00.000-04:002008-03-09T13:12:00.000-04:00That's quite the cogent argument you've made.That's quite the cogent argument you've made.KDeRosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06853211164976890091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25541994.post-67884638854016155222008-03-08T22:01:00.000-05:002008-03-08T22:01:00.000-05:00I also think Mr. Kozloff's response deserves wider...I also think Mr. Kozloff's response deserves wider distribution!<BR/><BR/>I suggest that you forward it on to the following websites:<BR/><BR/>www.IncoherentRamblingsofaCrazyPerson.com; www.PeopleWhoCan'tWriteSoGood.com; and www.WashingtonTimes.com.<BR/><BR/>Honestly, how can anyone take this guy seriously? He's completely nuts and he makes no sense. Why would you want <I>more</I> people to read this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com