LETTERS.

A Narrow Perspective

BY PAT GUILD

Director Pat Guild Associates, Seattle, Washington 

* My article, "Making Sense of Learning Styles" (January 1994), was designed to give readers a broad perspective of the concepts, theories, models, and applications of the work in learning styles. I intentionally have taken an eclectic approach to this topic in my work over the last 25 years.

Marie Carbo's letter (April 1994) commenting on my work is, unfortunately, representative of the narrow perspective of some researchers who promote only their own model.

I am astonished that Garbo is unfamiliar with the extensive body of research on reading associated with field-dependence-independence. Much of this work predates her own model and I remember personally sending her material on this cognitive style research at her request several years ago.

Her support for self-assessment instruments for children is also limited to her own emphasis on diagnostic-prescriptive applications of learning styles. More than half the learning style researchers would agree with my comment about limitations of self-report assessments for children. Because Carbo does not agree, it does not mean we are wrong.

In my article and in the list of learning style programs to which I contributed, Carbo's work is cited, and an entire article focuses on application of her reading styles program. It is therefore surprising that she complains about lack of coverage.

Most of all, squabbles among people in the learning styles field dishearten educators. Practitioners are frustrated by claims by some learning style researchers that their approach is the only "right" one. Teachers and administrators want to know how to use this important information to help all students be successful learners. They are not well served when a researcher like Carbo, who verbally professes to believe that people have different styles, uses incorrect information and a narrow perspective to criticize others' work.

A Model Performance

BY NORMAN R. BREKKE

Superintendent, Oxnard School District, Oxnard, California 

* What a pleasure it was to read Gary Knox's article, "Seven Rules to Year-Round Schooling," in your March issue.

It's exciting to see year-round education expand so successfully throughout the nation. Knox has done an especially fine job implementing the program in the Crane Elementary School District in Yuma, Ariz., and I frequently make reference to his experience.

Kudos to Murfreesboro

BY BILLY H. STOUT

Superintendent, Spencer County Public Schools, Taylorsville, Kentucky

* John Hodge Jones should be commended for developing such a wonderful program for students ("Ahead of the Times in Murfreesboro," March 1994).

Having been a superintendent for 17 years, I can understand how hard it is to change old paradigms. He deserves a pat on the back.

BY KARL V. HERTZ

Superintendent, Mequon-Thiensville School District, Mequon, Wisconsin

* As one reads John Hodge Jones' article about the extended-day program in Murfreesboro, Tenn., it is clear that the children in that community are benefitting from his efforts.

Jones should take great pride in the steps his district has taken. They are certainly appropriate.