[Reading-hall-of-fame] [Fwd: Bush's $6B Reading Program Failed]

[David Olson]

Before we propose major funding of a long-term, large-scale comparison of
reading programs to supercede the Bush program, we should remember (as
should those who proposed the Bush-sponsored program) the famous
Eight-Year Study conducted in the 1930s by Ralph Tyler and much discussed
by historians such as Cremin and Lagemann.  Thirty public and private
alternative high schools implemented a progressivist curriculum over an 8
year period that integrated subject areas and encouraged the arts as well
as community involvement.  The performance of graduates of these programs
at college entry was then compared to that of matched samples of students
graduating from regular schools.  Differences were negligible.  I doubt
anything interesting would come from  comparing reading programs, which in
my view, are all  remarkable similar  They are all fine if carried out
with decent resources and competent teachers.  Research needs to be direct
elsewhere.  David 

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