October 6, 2010
President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan were neither students, parents, nor teachers when the highly touted education reforms known as “whole language” and “discovery math” wreaked havoc in our schools two decades ago. I was a math teacher in Los Angeles and witnessed the costly consequences.
Regarding your front-page article "Rhee Reflective in Aftershock of D.C. Primary" (Sept. 22, 2010):
Regarding Michael Newdow's renewed legal challenge to the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance ("Pledge of Allegiance Debate Heard in Federal Court," News in Brief, Sept. 22, 2010):
Education has never lacked for new mantras, programs, methods, and means—each touted as a cure for poor student achievement. The latest, "teacher accountability," stands little chance of outshining any of the past attempts.
The Commentary by Paul Vallas and Nina Rees danced around the issues crucial to getting preschool education policy right ("From the Cradle to the Classroom," Sept. 22, 2010). The problem is not the shortage of interdepartmental coordinating committees or meetings between principals and preschool operators. Putting more money into day-care centers will, likely, worsen the problem, as will relying on for-profit operators.