[Reading-hall-of-fame] Re: Upcoming RHF Nomination Process

[Peter Johnston]

David is absolutely correct. In fact, the rule has already been violated. For example, Margaret Wise Brown got her bachelors degree in 1942. She died in 1952. Should we revoke her appointment? What if she had never completed her degree and thus had no terminal degree? Would we have been unable to elect her at all? 
Peter Johnston


-----Original Message-----
From: P David Pearson, Emeritus <ppearson at berkeley.edu>
To: Kathy Hinchman <kahinchm at syr.edu>; reading hall of fame <reading-hall-of-fame at lists.nottingham.ac.uk>
Sent: Mon, Apr 4, 2022 7:20 pm
Subject: [Reading-hall-of-fame] Re: Upcoming RHF Nomination Process

I am thrilled to know that we have the opportunity, once again, to nominate so many deserving candidates for the RHF.  
However, I continue to oppose the current standard of 25 years out from one's terminal degree.  I think the standard is ageist, arbitrary, and anti-meritorious.  Ageist:  The distribution of ages among those who meet the 25 years beyond the terminal degree could be very wide.     
   - Scholar A got a BA and Teacher Credential at age 22, taught elementary school for 5 years, went back to school to earn a Phd in 5 years.  She is eligible for RHF at age 57.    

   - Scholar B got a BA in History and went directly into an MA+credential program, finishing at age 23.  She taught for 3 years as a classroom teacher, wrote some articles for the Reading Teacher, collaborated on a teacher book for a publisher, started a free lance consulting company, and became well known. She is eligible at age 48.
   - Scholar C got a BA and credential, after starting a family, at age 29. She taught for 5 years, during which time she completed an MA as a reading specialist, joined a local reading council, served as president, published 5 articles and a book, ran for and was elected to the ILA Board at age 48, at which time, she started a doctoral program.  She finished at age 55.  She'll be eligible to stand for RHF at age 80.
Not fair
Arbitrary:  What's magical about 25 years. Some of us hit our stride early in our careers (I won't name any RHF members out of fear of missing someone), while others hit it later (we all know who we are).  We ought to be eligible when our record of accomplishment merits it.  Why does it matter if some have achieved enough to stand in 15 years, while others take 30 years?  Most other prestigious elections that I know of (e.g., AERA fellow or National Academy of Education) have NO time in grade requirements. Why should we?
Anti-merit:  I think we should reward merit (accomplishment in scholarship and leadership), pure and simple.  To put a time in grade standard in place assumes that if you just hang around long enough, your turn might come.  I think your turn should come when the record says it is your time.  That is what we should be judging: Does the record meet the standard?
I am not suggesting that we should change the process and criteria this year. We need to stick with what we have. 
But at some point, I think we should go to a strictly merit-based standard and let the "age" chips fall where they may.
My 2 cents forth. 
David




On Mon, Apr 4, 2022 at 3:37 PM Kathy Hinchman <kahinchm at syr.edu> wrote:

Hello Reading Hall of Fame Members,  I hope this email finds you well. The email comes as a reminder to begin thinking about who you would like to nominate for induction into the Reading Hall of Fame. This induction will take place at the 2022 annual meeting of the Literacy Research Association (LRA). The nomination process will begin when I send you a call for nominations in early June, 2022.  As you are considering nominees, I want to remind you of the Voting Procedures for the years 2020-2025. 1. An inductee must have made significant contributions to the field for over 25 years after the terminal degree is granted. 2. The description of the nominee’s biographical statement can be up to 250 words.3. RHF members can nominate living and deceased individuals and national and non-national individuals for induction. According to these procedures, there will be two ballots. The first one will be sent out during the week of June 6, 2022.The second and final ballot will be sent out approximately two weeks later.  Many thanks and take care, Kathy HinchmanSecretaryReading Hall of Fame ---Kathleen A. Hinchman
Professor Emerita
Reading & Language Arts DepartmentSyracuse University  


-- 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years."‑—Abraham Lincoln+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++P. David PearsonEvelyn Lois Corey Emeritus Professor of Instructional ScienceGraduate School of EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
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