Meet Frank Smith? No thanks.AS A LONGTIME READING teacher, the December 2003 article, "Meet Frank Smith" (page 41) by Gary Stager dismayed me. Smith indeed is well known for his contention that students' learning to read competently occurs "naturally." That is to say, he strongly opposes direct, intensive, systematic, early, and comprehensive (DISEC DISEC Disarmament and International Security Committee ) instruction of a prearranged pre·ar·range tr.v. pre·ar·ranged, pre·ar·rang·ing, pre·ar·rang·es To arrange in advance. pre hierarchy of reading skills and knowledge. However, Smith ignores the fact that relevant experimental findings consistently corroborate To support or enhance the believability of a fact or assertion by the presentation of additional information that confirms the truthfulness of the item. The testimony of a witness is corroborated if subsequent evidence, such as a coroner's report or the testimony of other DISEC reading tutelage TUTELAGE. State of guardianship; the condition of one who is subject to the control of a guardian. . Consequently, the "flaws and fallacies" that he observes in "scientific reading instruction" are merely subjective, negative impressions on his part. In short, the science of reading teaching indicates Stager errs in heralding Smith's latest book as "profound," and as being the outstanding source for "creating the most productive learning experiences possible for children." Quite to the contrary, none of the unique principles and novel practices that Smith recommends has been substantiated by objective evidence. Smith thus offers no "gifts of wisdom for educators," as Stager claims. To the opposite, reading teachers who follow his advice find themselves guilty of gross academic child abuse. Patrick Groff Professor of Education Emeritus San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU), founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area (generally the City and County of San Diego), and is part of the California State University system. |
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