To the Editor:
Re “We’re Unhealthy at Instructing Youngsters to Learn,” by Nicholas Kristof (column, Feb. 12):
Mr. Kristof has sadly jumped on the present “phonics” bandwagon. Why achieve this many academics resist utilizing a heavy phonics method? As a result of English shouldn’t be a purely phonetic language, and making an attempt to fake in any other case confuses and frustrates early readers.
Many, many phrases encountered in easy English textual content don’t observe dependable guidelines of pronunciation. The phrases “to” and “do” don’t rhyme with “so” or “go.” Nor do “how” and “row” rhyme. And why are “to,” “too” and “two” all pronounced the identical?
Applications that closely emphasize phonics attempt to create studying supplies that principally exclude nonphonetic phrases. That sounds logical, nevertheless it seems that nonphonetic phrases are so ubiquitous in English that sanitized texts are hopelessly synthetic.
Please give smart studying consultants an opportunity to clarify why pure phonics shouldn’t be the reply.
Nick Estes
Albuquerque
To the Editor:
Journalists like Nicholas Kristof and Emily Hanford, whose podcast he writes about, have helped many mother and father, academics and trainer educators perceive how fallacious studying instruction has been for many years.
I used to be a type of trainer educators getting ready academics utilizing practices popularized by just a few passionate leaders whose work had little grounding within the highest high quality analysis. It took a government-formed Nationwide Studying Panel to publish its findings in 2000 on efficient studying instruction for me to get up and alter my practices.
The report made it unequivocally clear that systematic, express phonics is a basis for instructing youngsters to learn. However that report is now a long time outdated, and there may be nonetheless a lot work to do.
It’s terrific to see new trainer educators embrace the science, however it could nonetheless be years earlier than all academics are ready within the methods we all know from science will assist extra youngsters study to learn.
Ellen McIntyre
Knoxville, Tenn.
The author is the dean of the Faculty of Schooling, Well being, and Human Sciences on the College of Tennessee.
To the Editor:
Consultants grapple with phonics and “efficient studying instruction,” however one of the simplest ways to encourage youngsters to learn is to learn to them. It’s a win-win when mother and father, grandparents or caregivers snuggle up with a baby and switch the pages of board books or image books or alphabet books or singalongs at no matter tempo the toddler prefers.
“Goodnight Moon,” “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” and “Chicka Chicka Growth Growth” — I beloved studying these classics to my daughters, and I really like studying them now to my grandsons.
Librarians may help you pick excellent age-appropriate books — our tax {dollars} at work. Going to a child bathe or birthday celebration? A bookseller may help you choose one thing excellent that may outlast bibs or garments. Books are presents that youngsters can open time and again.
Briefly, if we wish our children to learn, let’s learn with them, and make it joyful. And allow them to see you studying too.
Carol Weston
New York
The author is an recommendation columnist and an creator of books for younger individuals.
To the Editor:
I applaud Nicholas Kristof’s column on the state of studying in our colleges as we speak. In case your readers want to know what they will personally do in regards to the scenario, I supply a suggestion from private expertise as a retired senior citizen.
Contact your native faculty district and supply your time to learn to youngsters in class. I not too long ago did so and now present studying help to kindergartners three days every week as a volunteer. I work one on one with a baby designated by the trainer.
Whereas my suggestion is not any panacea, it’s a small step in the correct course.
Charles F. Miller
Bethesda, Md.
On Madonna’s New Look: Let’s Have fun Growing old Naturally
To the Editor:
Re “Madonna’s New Face Is a Good Provocation,” by Jennifer Weiner (Opinion visitor essay, Feb. 9):
Ms. Weiner quotes Madonna as saying, “I’m blissful to do the trailblazing so that every one the ladies behind me can have a better time within the years to come back.” I’m curious, how does this signify trailblazing?
Beauty surgical procedure for approval or consideration, even self-approval, appears much less like trailblazing and extra like objectification. To see extra girls growing older naturally within the media highlight can be the definition of a trailblazing and daring instance to set.
Suzanne Tenner
Los Angeles
To the Editor:
Jennifer Weiner writes, “I’d wish to suppose that our period’s biggest chameleon, a girl who has at all times been intentional about her reinvention, was doing one thing slyer, extra subversive, by serving us each a brand new — if not essentially improved — face and a aspect of critique in regards to the work of magnificence, the inevitability of growing older, and the unattainable bind by which older feminine celebrities discover themselves.”
Please. As a 65-year-old lady, I can let you know: Having excessive surgical procedure is actually not a brand new method to “critique” the work of magnificence, the inevitability of growing older, and the unattainable bind” by which all older girls discover themselves.
Eager about your age, expertise, knowledge, large coronary heart, curiosity and the individuals you like would really be a great begin if you’re in search of your magnificence.
It strikes me as extraordinarily unhappy that so many lovely girls of their 40s, 50s and 60s suppose that erasing their years cosmetically — slicing themselves open, pulling or pushing their pores and skin and rearranging their faces — is an affordable method towards getting older.
Till very not too long ago in human historical past, you had been thought-about fortunate to have had the face that you just had lived and earned, even with the stuff that you just don’t like: the jowls and the wrinkles and the pouches and the luggage. I’m making an attempt to stay in that place.
To the Editor:
Re “As Tech Cuts Again, Layoffs Shock New Dad and mom” (Enterprise, Feb. 13):
It’s terrible that the employees profiled on this article unexpectedly misplaced gold-standard advantages when their corporations minimize their jobs.
However this illustrates a a lot greater downside: In the USA, in contrast to in financial peer nations, staff and households are anticipated to go it alone. They play the lottery on the subject of bosses, little one care and wages. Uncertainty characterizes many working households’ experiences.
We’d like baseline requirements and investments: a nationwide paid household and medical go away program much like packages in 11 states and Washington, D.C., little one care investments that cut back households’ prices and enhance the standard of kid care work, and jobs with truthful wages and work schedules.
I really feel dangerous for brand spanking new mother and father who’ve misplaced high-end jobs and advantages, however I really feel worse for individuals who have by no means anticipated or acquired such advantages and battle to handle work and household every single day due to our nation’s individualistic method to working households. This must be a mobilizing second for everybody.
Vicki Shabo
Washington
The author is a senior fellow for paid go away coverage and technique at New America’s Higher Life Lab.
Supply: NY Times
