Re: GEN: Dick and Jane (was: family literacy)

[Joni J Rathbun <jrathbun@OREDNET.ORG>]

On Tue, 1 May 2001, Ken Umbach wrote:

> Hmmmm ... I am puzzled by your assertion regarding "look say" and the Dick
> and Jane readers.  I recall using the Dick and Jane readers when I was in
> elementary school (what, first grade?  1953 or thereabouts), but we
> definitely also learned at least basic phonics -- the two worked together
> hand-in-glove.   Although Dick and Jane and their dog what's-his-name may

My assertion is simply that the Dick and Jane series was a look-say
reading program. That your teacher (and mine) also incorporated phonics
doesn't change this fact. Nor does it make look-say synonymous with
whole language. I'm not sure what is puzzling about that.


> not have been cutting edge literature, I have never felt that they deprived
> me of a sound foundation in reading.

I'm not the one *asserting* that the look-say method is the same as whole
language and responsible for poor literacy rates in the U.S. Indeed,
Oregon did a literacy survey a few years back and my generation, a
look-say generation, demonstrated the highest rate of literacy among all
generations (thru the 80s).


> I recall the class reading in unison
> and reciting individually.  That was fun and effective.  And I am eternally
> grateful for the grounding in phonics, an advantage that my own kids
> largely missed

For that grounding in phonics you have your teacher to thank, not Dick and
Jane.


> (This is a comment to Joni Rathbun, but may be of interest to the list so I
> am cc-ing LM_NET)
>
> Regards,
>
> Ken
>
> --
> Kenneth W. Umbach, Ph.D., Policy Analyst, California Research Bureau,
> California State Library, 900 N Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814
> E-mail: kumbach@unlimited.net (or kumbach@library.ca.gov)
> Phone: (voice) 916-653-6002 (fax) 916-654-5829
> Home page and selected papers: http://home.inreach.com/kumbach
> This message reflects my opinion, not that of my employer or anyone else.
>

==========================================================================
"Obscenity and hate speech alike only become free speech issues when their
foes turn from censure to censorship. When we decided to let a thousand
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                -- Henry Louis Gates Jr., educator, c. 1990
=========================================================================
J. Rathbun, Library Teacher
Lincoln E.S., North Las Vegas
Email: jrathbun@orednet.org



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