A Reading First evaluator, Martin Kozloff, a University of North Carolina at Wilmington education professor, is a little peeved at the attacks that have crippled the program. D-Ed Reckoning publishes Kozloff’s bulletin-board posting on an imaginary conversation:
Teacher. “So, what do you think THIS word is?”
Kid. “How the f$#@ should I know? I don’t know how to read.”
Teacher. “Well, what word do you think FITS here?”
Kid. “How the f%$# should I know? I can’t read ANY part of the sentence. So how can I tell what FITS means, you stupid f%$#ing cow?”
Teacher. “Well, do you see pictures on the page that can help you?”
Kid. “Oh, Sweet Jesus! Is there a picture for EVERY word? Is that how I’m supposed to read? I use pictures to tell me what the WORDS say? Then why not just write books with PICTURES and forget the alphabet . . . ?”
Kozloff has evaluated more than a thousand fourth graders in his county who can’t read at the first-grade level.
Professor Plum’s rants really are relentless.
Professor Plum may have, ahem, a unique way of expressing the current situation in the field of education. But, his rants have the virtue of being correct.