[Reading-hall-of-fame] RHF 2006 IRA symposium

[Yetta Goodman]

Memo to RHFamers from Yetta Goodman:

As you know Jay Samuels, Patrick Shannon, Ken Goodman, Kathy Au, Taffy 
Rafael and David Pearson presented a RHF symposium at IRA.
I had the honor to chair the session. The focus was a critical analysis 
of No Child Left Behind. It was very well attended and well recieved.
I am including selected comments that panel members wrote to each other 
over the last two days to give you a flavor of the influence we think 
this symposium had on the audience.
It was a very important in terms of providing knowledge and a range of 
perspectives to the audience and making RHF visible as an organization 
of members who continue to
contribute to the profession especially in support of kids, schools, 
teachers and literacy.

I am sending this message to the RHF list serve because I believe RHF 
should continue to do such sessions yearly at IRA or perhaps we might do 
sessions at NRC or NCTE once in a while.
The session should relate to an important national/ international  issue 
concerning literacy, kids, schools and teachers.
Rob Tierney and Jim Hoffman were talking about the possibility of 
considering a session related to the Reskilling  (as opposed to 
Deskilling) or Reprofessionalization of  Teachers. 

Selected Comments  
 From Jay Samuels:

I was surprised and pleased at the range of topics our panel presented at
the NCLB symposium. Pat got a standing ovation for his reminder of our
philosophical ideals that we hold as a nation with regard to the importance
of education for all of our citizens. It was obvious that many in the
audience loved what he had to say.  I was impressed with Ken's talk and the
knowledge he has about the interlocking groups from universities-the
Government-and possibly publishers that seem to value power and economic
gains above what is good and fair... I thought Taffy and Kathryn were
on target in that they read the pulse of the teacher's despair and
frustration in their attempt to help all children and groups make AYP. What
they offered were tested approaches that could help the teachers make
progress. And David Pearson and I took a psychometric approach. I really
liked the way Dave showed how kids who might be below the magical cut-off
points might actually be showing real progress in learning to read, yet
their scores would actually pull the school scores down. Incidentally, the
Feds are exploring the possibility (in about 20 test cases) the feasibility
of allowing just the kind of approach that Dave's presentation would
suggest, namely that progress towards the goal should be valued, even if the
students are below the cut-off proficient levels.  As you know, I was making
two points in my talk. First, the 2014 goal of all kids at the proficient
level is probably an impossible dream, a Lake Wobegon unobtainable goal.
Second, each state could lower the cut-off points for proficiency to low
enough levels that the entire effort becomes a mockery, and as I showed,
this is already happening.

I estimated that there were about 450 in the audience, and from
a third to about half stayed to the very end. I, for one, thought the audience
comments and questions, and in some cases, their humor,  added to the value
of our session. John Micklos from IRA Headquarters stayed the full time for our symposium,
and on behalf of our presenters, I want to thank him for coming.   Jay Samuels   

Rose-Marie Weber was in the and she reacted to what we did. Below is what she wrote.
Hello, Jay,    The Hall of Fame session in Chicago was a smash.  I was amazed at the
response of the audience to all the thoughtful and heartfelt positions of
you all. 

>From DAvid Pearson: 

It was a treat to be a part of such a smart panel--and to hear words of 
such honesty and conviction.

 From Taffy Rafael:

Hi all,  I just wanted to say that I was proud to share the platform 
with everyone yesterday in our session.
 I think it was an important session.

-- 
Yetta M. Goodman
Regents Professor Emerita
University of Arizona, College of Education
Language Reading and Culture - Room 532
Tucson, AZ 85721
Home Address
7914 S. Galileo Lane
Tucson, AZ 85747-9609