Teaching idiots quote of the day
“In spite of the fact that these recent arrivals spoke ‘almost no English,’ Holly noted emphatically that she ‘was NOT teaching these students English. We focused on phonics.’”
Somebody defending a bill in Florida that would, as far as I can work out, make all teaching of reading to English as a Second Language learners the same as the teaching of reading to native speakers. Read the kind of nicely argued post that I wish I had the time and patience to write here.
PS By “teaching idiots” I mean “idiots who teach”- which would have been much clearer, but the way it is just sounded better to me for some reason. There is also the possibility I wanted to mess with your head- everyone needs a hobby I guess…
March 25th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
When I began teaching ESOL some 15 years ago people from all over the world were coming to Florida to learn from what we did in our programs for ESOL students. Now instead of lauding what we do they’re laughing at what we do. Thanks a lot, Florida legislators. I can’t wait to retire to get away from your Midas Touch in reverse when it comes to schools and children.
March 26th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I wish I could laugh, but it’s terrible. The effort to deny the most vulnerable equal access and full literacy cannot be disconnected with the anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic flames fanned by economic woes and garden variety bigotry.