The One That Appears in Many Guises
In a recent interview I gave for a local educational TV program, one of the first questions put to me was, "Why are there so many reading programs? Parents constantly call in, saying that the wide array leaves them confused and unable to determine which program is the right one for them to use?"
My immediate reaction was, and continues to be, "Technically, there may be a large number of programs. But the variety is deceptive because all are variations on a single theme. In one form or another, they represent teaching that is based on the "sounding out" ideas and rules of traditional phonics.
There would be nothing wrong with this--if the approach was effective. Unfortunately, it is not. It has for generations been responsible for enormously high failure rates--including the current national failure rate which steadily hovers around the 40% level.
Given its lack of effectiveness, one might wonder why the approach continues to hold center stage.
But given the way ideas work, its power is not really surprising. It is THE system that has existed for generations. And as history repeatedly shows us, once a system takes hold, it is extremely difficult to dislodge it--even when it is not working.
A physician, Dr. Brian Weiss, who chose to work with some non-conventional techniques in psychiatry, stated the issue clearly when he said, "Throughout history, humankind has been resistant to change and to the acceptance of new ideas. Historical lore is replete with examples. When Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter, the astronomers of the time refused to accept or even look at these satellites because the existence of these moons conflicted with their accepted beliefs."
But eventually and fortunately, change does take place. And it takes place only when a better alternative becomes available. That is what Phonics Plus Five is all about. It is the complete and effective program that families can easily use to bring reading success to their children.
