Speech and writing are human inventions designed for people to be able to effectively communicate with one another. Originally written communication
was performed through drawings, pictures, or art of some kind. As one can readily see, with the number of words (and, hence, sentences) that exist
there would have to be so many pictures that communication would become cumbersome and unwieldy. Thus was born the concept of letters joined
together to make words as well as sounds.
It was in approximately 500 B.C. that the first real use of an alphabet, a syllabary, was adopted by the Greeks. This was later adapted and changed by
the Romans.
The importance of a person knowing their alphabet had been stressed as far back as 360 BC when Plato wrote in his famous text, The
Republic: "Just as in learning to read, I said, we were satisfied when we knew the letters of the alphabet, which are very few, in all their recurring
sizes and combinations; not slighting them as unimportant whether they occupy a space large or small, but everywhere eager to make them out; and not
thinking ourselves perfect in the art of reading until we recognize them wherever they are found."
In 1635, the first "free school" opened in Virginia; however, most education in the southern colonies was still conducted at home by parents or tutors. But,
in 1647, Massachusetts passed the Old Deluder Satan Act, which says, in part: "It is therefore ordered that every township in this jurisdiction, after the
Lord hath increased them in number of fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all children as shall resort to him to
write and read."
This, then, was truly the beginning of the education system within the United States. And, while ensuring that all people had access to an education was
certainly a good idea, the problem with administering classes with 10, 20, or 30 students began, as students learn at different and varying speeds.
However, with the continued use of the alphabetic, or phonics, approach to initially teach children how to read, write and spell, and the concept of older
students tutoring younger ones still in use, the literacy rate in America became quite high.
Today the United States spends more than a trillion dollars a year, over $12,000 per student, more than two-and-a-half times that of 35 years ago (in
constant dollars) yet the reading scores of our fourth, eighth and twelfth grade students remains virtually flat. It appears obvious from this fact alone that
throwing huge amounts of money at something that needs fixing does not necessarily repair the problem.
Unfortunately, however, there are millions of children and adults today that do not have the benefit of having systematic phonics as part of their early
reading instruction.
Get the full history, including the tragic step taken that caused the illiteracy epidemic, and the solution.
Why fill-in-the-blank Can't Read or Why Education "Reform" is NOT the Answer.
How did America, which had evolved the best education system in the world, tumble from the pinnacle of success to mediocrity?
Why do the President and the Secretary of Education propose education reform measures such as shortening or eliminating
summer vacation and longer school days as the answer?
Is the solution really as complex as it is made out to be?
This essay provides background information regarding the changes made in an instructional method that has been responsible
for nothing less than devastating results to the American education process.
And it points out the solution, which, while being simple, is being overlooked, sidestepped, or ignored by those in the position to
implement and reverse the long downward trend.
This subject has been argued for decades but the facts are indisputable, while being remarkably clear and easy to see.
Download your Kindle copy today!
The Smart Way Reading and Spelling® Program
The Smart Way Reading and Spelling program was designed to assist struggling students. Smart Way provides one of the significant links that was missed
early on for many students -- systematic and explicit phonics instruction. Additionally, Smart Way teaches comprehension strategies throughout
the entire program.
With our Franklin Assessments Decoding Skills targeted placement test, the specific areas in which each individual student requires assistance
can be directly located and addressed, thus offering greater academic success.
Interactive, Internet Instruction™
Bright Sky Learning now offers the highly effective Smart Way Reading and Spelling and The Sounds of English
programs online with Phonics interactive Education™ (PiE) and English Alphabet & Sounds instruction™ (EASi). As with the original programs,
the online direct derivative works are designed to be easy to use and extremely efficient in teaching students of all ages. The reading
methodology ranges from teaching introductory sounds and how to learn American English through advanced reading strategies.
