[Reading-hall-of-fame] Re: Aussie Request for support

[Stephen Krashen]

I am happy to add my name to the letter.Stephen KrashenProfessor EmeritusUniversity of Southern California 
Of course, adding my name does not mean that I agree with everything in the letter but I am comfortable in signing it.

Briefly

(1) I fault the AITSL task force for proposing that we must TEACH the “fundamentals of literacy.” There is strong evidence that all five of the fundamentals are largely the result of reading. 

(2) We say that the Minister’s announcement is premised on an erroneous assumption, that phonics is not being taught. Two comments. First, I would say it is based on an unsubstantiated assumption. Second it sounds like we  cheerfully support teaching all of phonics directly. 
None of this need be mentioned along with my signature. Just sharing with colleagues.   


 On Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 07:13:49 PM PST, Brian Cambourne <bcambrn at uow.edu.au> wrote:  
 
  Dear RHF Colleagues,A small group of academics on the right of the political spectrum has gained extraordinary influence over Liberal governments in Australia. These people come from academic areas other than education and have not taught classes of children to read and write. Nevertheless, they have persuaded the federal government and the government in South Australia to mandate synthetic phonics as part of the curriculum. Most of the values that language and literacy educators have held dear are now threatened.
The Foundation for Learning and Literacy, a voluntary “think-tank “of literacy experts comprising literacy educators at university and school levels has joined many others around Australia to protest. Members are concerned about the way governments are making decisions without reference to sound bodies of research or consultation with people who have spent decades teaching literacy. So, we are asking people with expertise in literacy to agree to be signatories of a letter along the lines of the “Concerned Scientists of The World Re Climate Change” drawing attention to the stacking  of a government task force with advocates of synthetic phonics. We are hoping as many of you as possible will want to join us. ALL WE NEED IS PERMISSION TO ADD YOUR NAME AND ACADEMIC AFFILIATION TO OUR LETTER.I will be delighted if you can indicate your willingness to sign by sending your name and affiliation or previous experience to David Hornsby at david.hornsby at mac.com Please send a copy to me.We hope that the media will take notice of our protest before 4 December. So, please move quickly.I have signed and hope you can too.Brian Cambourne.
Assoc. Prof. ( Dr) Brian Cambourne
Principal Fellow
School of Education
Faculty of Socal Sciences
Building 67, Level 3.  Visiting Fellows Room 
University of Wollongong NSW 2522 Mobile 0408684368
socialsciences.uow.edu.au/education   
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