Sold a Story podcast

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

So what happens to the kids whose parents don't speak English well? Or read themselves? Or who work 80 hour jobs to put food on the table and don't have time for enrichment for their kids, or money to buy games and puzzles? We just assume those kids will fail? This is why public schools were created in America - to help ALL the kids learn - not just the ones whose parents can do part of the teaching at home.

Presumably they end up dyslexic and incarcerated like they deserve for not attending school faithfully enough like a PP suggested.

I'm not fighting back against this crap only for my kid, it's for these kids. These people exist and lots of them are doing everything they possibly can and then some. They are not less worthy of a basic education than the rest of us.

Right, but remember that during the election when people attack CRT and reading programs. Sorry to make this political, but education is a mix of politics and money at all times.

Phonics is not going to cure poverty and dyslexia. Can it help to have more systematic phonics instruction? Yes a little
Is it going to rid the world of these issues? Absolutely not.

Republican strategy is to get upset about school decisions and say no one is listening to parents and parent rights should rule. Meanwhile laws have already been passed mandating phonics in Virginia.

The larger game is that Republicans are trying to get people to vote for Republicans under the premise that they will pass already passed laws and give “parent’s rights”. Once they are elected into the state legislature and school boards, the plan is give to school vouchers to private schools and open charters which will lead to the erosion of public school systems.

You can of course write this off crazy and are currently free to vote how you would like to. Republicans watched Youngkin win on this platform and it is working well for them in other places so they will continue to use it.

I'm not sure I follow this post, but I haven't kept up with who pushed the phonics legislation. But I agreeing with the PP that public schools should serve all. Are you saying Republicans pushed the phonics legislation through while also trying to dismantle the same public schools? If so, I didn't know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

So what happens to the kids whose parents don't speak English well? Or read themselves? Or who work 80 hour jobs to put food on the table and don't have time for enrichment for their kids, or money to buy games and puzzles? We just assume those kids will fail? This is why public schools were created in America - to help ALL the kids learn - not just the ones whose parents can do part of the teaching at home.

Presumably they end up dyslexic and incarcerated like they deserve for not attending school faithfully enough like a PP suggested.

I'm not fighting back against this crap only for my kid, it's for these kids. These people exist and lots of them are doing everything they possibly can and then some. They are not less worthy of a basic education than the rest of us.

Right, but remember that during the election when people attack CRT and reading programs. Sorry to make this political, but education is a mix of politics and money at all times.

Phonics is not going to cure poverty and dyslexia. Can it help to have more systematic phonics instruction? Yes a little
Is it going to rid the world of these issues? Absolutely not.

Republican strategy is to get upset about school decisions and say no one is listening to parents and parent rights should rule. Meanwhile laws have already been passed mandating phonics in Virginia.

The larger game is that Republicans are trying to get people to vote for Republicans under the premise that they will pass already passed laws and give “parent’s rights”. Once they are elected into the state legislature and school boards, the plan is give to school vouchers to private schools and open charters which will lead to the erosion of public school systems.

You can of course write this off crazy and are currently free to vote how you would like to. Republicans watched Youngkin win on this platform and it is working well for them in other places so they will continue to use it.

I'm not sure I follow this post, but I haven't kept up with who pushed the phonics legislation. But I agreeing with the PP that public schools should serve all. Are you saying Republicans pushed the phonics legislation through while also trying to dismantle the same public schools? If so, I didn't know that.

^^I meant I know they are pushing vouchers. I'm not following the rest of the post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

So what happens to the kids whose parents don't speak English well? Or read themselves? Or who work 80 hour jobs to put food on the table and don't have time for enrichment for their kids, or money to buy games and puzzles? We just assume those kids will fail? This is why public schools were created in America - to help ALL the kids learn - not just the ones whose parents can do part of the teaching at home.

Presumably they end up dyslexic and incarcerated like they deserve for not attending school faithfully enough like a PP suggested.

I'm not fighting back against this crap only for my kid, it's for these kids. These people exist and lots of them are doing everything they possibly can and then some. They are not less worthy of a basic education than the rest of us.

Right, but remember that during the election when people attack CRT and reading programs. Sorry to make this political, but education is a mix of politics and money at all times.

Phonics is not going to cure poverty and dyslexia. Can it help to have more systematic phonics instruction? Yes a little
Is it going to rid the world of these issues? Absolutely not.

Republican strategy is to get upset about school decisions and say no one is listening to parents and parent rights should rule. Meanwhile laws have already been passed mandating phonics in Virginia.

The larger game is that Republicans are trying to get people to vote for Republicans under the premise that they will pass already passed laws and give “parent’s rights”. Once they are elected into the state legislature and school boards, the plan is give to school vouchers to private schools and open charters which will lead to the erosion of public school systems.

You can of course write this off crazy and are currently free to vote how you would like to. Republicans watched Youngkin win on this platform and it is working well for them in other places so they will continue to use it.

I'm not sure I follow this post, but I haven't kept up with who pushed the phonics legislation. But I agreeing with the PP that public schools should serve all. Are you saying Republicans pushed the phonics legislation through while also trying to dismantle the same public schools? If so, I didn't know that.

^^I meant I know they are pushing vouchers. I'm not following the rest of the post.

Sorry, I’m saying creating more discord around public schooling only serves Republican purpose more. (Hence the focus on CRT). Parents who are ragingly upset about phonics/reading instruction when legislation has already passed in VA are only serving to stoke those fires and outrage at this point. That may or may not be intentional on the part of parents/posters, but it is a consequence of the teacher, reading instruction and school bashing that happens here and other places.

I think Republicans are counting on the fact that no one realizes that legislation was already passed and want to tap into the outrage to garner votes. They do have a strong history of being able to do that.

[Anonymous]

Relevant quote from Steve Dykstra, PhD. Psychologist:

"The entire design of instruction under Whole Language and its close relative, Balanced Literacy, ensured that adults would succeed even if children did not. The vague role of the instructor means that so long as they provide enough books and opportunities, they have succeeded. If the child fails to read, the fault is with the child who didn't try hard enough, the family that didn't read to the child, the community that didn't fund the school, or society that couldn't eradicate poverty. The responsibility, and solution, lies elsewhere, never with the instruction.

A fundamental difference between Structured Literacy and Whole Language is where the responsibility falls when things go wrong. That shift in thinking and behavior can be very challenging, and feel like an attack."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relevant quote from Steve Dykstra, PhD. Psychologist:

"The entire design of instruction under Whole Language and its close relative, Balanced Literacy, ensured that adults would succeed even if children did not. The vague role of the instructor means that so long as they provide enough books and opportunities, they have succeeded. If the child fails to read, the fault is with the child who didn't try hard enough, the family that didn't read to the child, the community that didn't fund the school, or society that couldn't eradicate poverty. The responsibility, and solution, lies elsewhere, never with the instruction.

A fundamental difference between Structured Literacy and Whole Language is where the responsibility falls when things go wrong. That shift in thinking and behavior can be very challenging, and feel like an attack."

That is fascinating to me as a teacher because no Balanced literacy gave teachers more leeway to fail and we were very definitely held accountable. That was the entire point of the testing movement.

The phonics programs are entirely scripted and delivered whole group. I taught Kindergarten with an entirely scripted Fundations like program, and read aloud literacy last year. Our small groups were also mostly scripted with room to substitute different letters children were working on during a lesson. I had no agency in what I was saying as I was teaching. How do I bear responsibility/accountability for success or failure when I made no instructional decisions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

So what happens to the kids whose parents don't speak English well? Or read themselves? Or who work 80 hour jobs to put food on the table and don't have time for enrichment for their kids, or money to buy games and puzzles? We just assume those kids will fail? This is why public schools were created in America - to help ALL the kids learn - not just the ones whose parents can do part of the teaching at home.

You are using an example that is over 200 years old. Poor people and immigrants have always received less, in public education and in society. This is not a new problem - even in FCPS. You know what happens because it’s been going on forever. School is for all, but a superior education is for the rich. So now, what are you going to do about it? Public education is not changing any time soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

I learned how to read by watching my mom read books aloud to me. I was reading at 4 years old and going to the library every week with my sister and checking out books. Make reading fun, familial, and enjoyable for your kid. They learn better that way than in a class with 29 other kids and one adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

I learned how to read by watching my mom read books aloud to me. I was reading at 4 years old and going to the library every week with my sister and checking out books. Make reading fun, familial, and enjoyable for your kid. They learn better that way than in a class with 29 other kids and one adult.

Omg, it’s almost like people don’t listen to research. About 40% of kids learn to read like this, the other 60% don’t.
Peoples brains are different, it is actually neuroscience.

I have three kids, one is dyslexic, one learned to read without an ounce of effort and the other one was right in between. It is a complex process. They all went to preschool, went to the library and were read to. The only way my dyslexic kid is reading is bc we have the money to get her out of public schools and get an appropriate education with targeted instruction.
I could go on forever about the shortcomings of public school, lack of early identification, lack of remediation, and yes, so many teachers don’t recognize dyslexia. Some of it is the fault of education programs at the college level, some of it at the local school level.
I don’t think the ability to read should be based on the parents income and financial resources for outside help. Our school systems are incredibly broken at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

I learned how to read by watching my mom read books aloud to me. I was reading at 4 years old and going to the library every week with my sister and checking out books. Make reading fun, familial, and enjoyable for your kid. They learn better that way than in a class with 29 other kids and one adult.

Omg, it’s almost like people don’t listen to research. About 40% of kids learn to read like this, the other 60% don’t.
Peoples brains are different, it is actually neuroscience.

I have three kids, one is dyslexic, one learned to read without an ounce of effort and the other one was right in between. It is a complex process. They all went to preschool, went to the library and were read to. The only way my dyslexic kid is reading is bc we have the money to get her out of public schools and get an appropriate education with targeted instruction.
I could go on forever about the shortcomings of public school, lack of early identification, lack of remediation, and yes, so many teachers don’t recognize dyslexia. Some of it is the fault of education programs at the college level, some of it at the local school level.
I don’t think the ability to read should be based on the parents income and financial resources for outside help. Our school systems are incredibly broken at this point.

What age does your private identify dyslexia and make an IEP? What is their process? Or is this a private built to help dyslexic kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

Unfortunately in our experience, the school said my 1st grader was reading “just fine”, and the report card showed it—mostly all 4s in LA! We transferred him to a Catholic school (not for this reason), and his teacher was alarmed by his (lack of) reading progress. He was immediately put into a FIVE days per week reading intervention. I felt like such an idiot for not pushing my concerns with his 1st grade teacher. And, I’m not blaming the teacher. She may not have known better, and it’s likely my son was performing similar to his peers. The whole thing is frustrating, for all involved.

Grades in public school, especially in the primary grades, are meaningless.

That doesn't have to be the case. It didn't used to be the case.

I had 3 families crying at parent teacher conferences. They thought their kids were “a little below grade level” from previous teachers, they are years below. Some teachers don’t want conflict and they skew the facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relevant quote from Steve Dykstra, PhD. Psychologist:

"The entire design of instruction under Whole Language and its close relative, Balanced Literacy, ensured that adults would succeed even if children did not. The vague role of the instructor means that so long as they provide enough books and opportunities, they have succeeded. If the child fails to read, the fault is with the child who didn't try hard enough, the family that didn't read to the child, the community that didn't fund the school, or society that couldn't eradicate poverty. The responsibility, and solution, lies elsewhere, never with the instruction.

A fundamental difference between Structured Literacy and Whole Language is where the responsibility falls when things go wrong. That shift in thinking and behavior can be very challenging, and feel like an attack."

That is fascinating to me as a teacher because no Balanced literacy gave teachers more leeway to fail and we were very definitely held accountable. That was the entire point of the testing movement.

The phonics programs are entirely scripted and delivered whole group. I taught Kindergarten with an entirely scripted Fundations like program, and read aloud literacy last year. Our small groups were also mostly scripted with room to substitute different letters children were working on during a lesson. I had no agency in what I was saying as I was teaching. How do I bear responsibility/accountability for success or failure when I made no instructional decisions?

Why do you need to make instructional decisions when you are teaching the very basics? I'm a parent - I'm very happy with the accountability in programs like Fundations. I know exactly what my kids are learning and how I can reinforce it at home -- isn't that what PPs are telling us we should be doing???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

I learned how to read by watching my mom read books aloud to me. I was reading at 4 years old and going to the library every week with my sister and checking out books. Make reading fun, familial, and enjoyable for your kid. They learn better that way than in a class with 29 other kids and one adult.

Not every kid is like four year old you, surely you understand that???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relevant quote from Steve Dykstra, PhD. Psychologist:

"The entire design of instruction under Whole Language and its close relative, Balanced Literacy, ensured that adults would succeed even if children did not. The vague role of the instructor means that so long as they provide enough books and opportunities, they have succeeded. If the child fails to read, the fault is with the child who didn't try hard enough, the family that didn't read to the child, the community that didn't fund the school, or society that couldn't eradicate poverty. The responsibility, and solution, lies elsewhere, never with the instruction.

A fundamental difference between Structured Literacy and Whole Language is where the responsibility falls when things go wrong. That shift in thinking and behavior can be very challenging, and feel like an attack."

That is fascinating to me as a teacher because no Balanced literacy gave teachers more leeway to fail and we were very definitely held accountable. That was the entire point of the testing movement.

The phonics programs are entirely scripted and delivered whole group. I taught Kindergarten with an entirely scripted Fundations like program, and read aloud literacy last year. Our small groups were also mostly scripted with room to substitute different letters children were working on during a lesson. I had no agency in what I was saying as I was teaching. How do I bear responsibility/accountability for success or failure when I made no instructional decisions?

I would think part of Fundations training should be how to recognize those kids for whom it's not enough and they need more repetition of Fundations lessons or full Wilson. There would be a process to identify those kids and get that help. That might not all be in your control, but that's what I'd expect from a structured phonics program.

If you're not able to make any instructional decisions, that's a bad system. I think teachers have been put in a terrible position under balanced literacy and now phonics if you are not being given all the tools you need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

Unfortunately in our experience, the school said my 1st grader was reading “just fine”, and the report card showed it—mostly all 4s in LA! We transferred him to a Catholic school (not for this reason), and his teacher was alarmed by his (lack of) reading progress. He was immediately put into a FIVE days per week reading intervention. I felt like such an idiot for not pushing my concerns with his 1st grade teacher. And, I’m not blaming the teacher. She may not have known better, and it’s likely my son was performing similar to his peers. The whole thing is frustrating, for all involved.

Grades in public school, especially in the primary grades, are meaningless.

That doesn't have to be the case. It didn't used to be the case.

It doesn't but parents seem to be happy with their kid's inflated grades. Just wait until they got to MS and HS and they get As without doing much of anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My older daughter was "taught to read" using this shit approach and is STILL behind and not reading well. F_ her kindergarten teacher.

You could take part of the blame as well. It’s not all on teachers.

Why? This was my first child and I trusted the school to teach my child how to read, and I trusted them when I said "she can't read these specific beginner books, is that a problem?" and they said "nope, she's right where she should be." How was I to know any better? I think he moral of the story here is you can't trust educators, which is so, so sad.

Spot on, that's why parents have to be the primary source of teaching for their children until they can fly solo (hopefully by middle school). Listen to, be respectful, but take teacher feedback with some skepticism; you as a parent can (and should) independently assess your kid at a young age and draw your own conclusions in addition to teacher, to reduce risk.

That’s fine and all but in a two parent working household why all the high property taxes to fund schools whose employees now say ‘do it yourself’. If we are Home Depot’ing it than please let’s cut the 3 billion dollar budgets of MCPS and FCPS and we will redirect funds to teach ourselves the science of learning or find a tutor immersed in direct instruction, phonics, abacus method for math, et al.

No one is saying “do it yourself”. All the posts say things need to happen at school and home.

So what happens to the kids whose parents don't speak English well? Or read themselves? Or who work 80 hour jobs to put food on the table and don't have time for enrichment for their kids, or money to buy games and puzzles? We just assume those kids will fail? This is why public schools were created in America - to help ALL the kids learn - not just the ones whose parents can do part of the teaching at home.

You are using an example that is over 200 years old. Poor people and immigrants have always received less, in public education and in society. This is not a new problem - even in FCPS. You know what happens because it’s been going on forever. School is for all, but a superior education is for the rich. So now, what are you going to do about it? Public education is not changing any time soon.

The expectations were a lot lower back then. Kindergarten was a half-day and some kids never even went to kindergarten (my mom didn't; my grandfather said he wasn't going to send his kid to school to play). Now, the same age kids, are expected to be reading and writing. Now, the majority of students in public schools live in poverty. So they are further behind than kids used to be AND the expectations are much higher.