According to Illinois University professor Lilian Katz, we are getting our children to learn to read too soon. ‘It can be seriously damaging for children who see themselves as inept at reading too early,’ Professor Katz told the Guardian.
But the real burning issue in the UK is that we have not been getting our children to read early – because of poor methodologies.
Many educationalists have contested the idea of introducing formal learning as early as four years old. The Swedes, who we love so much to emulate, are said to be "shocked" that we start the 3 Rs so early. There is indeed substantial research evidence to suggest that it is at best unnecessary to learning development to start so young and at worse detrimental. It seems that the most plausible position is that there really is no hurry, why rush the process, whereas once learning through play is over, it is over for good. Despite its reverence for the Scandinavian example, this government has nevertheless been particularly keen on introducing formal learning at a very young age, with the much-criticised Early Learning Curriculum, embedding formal learning from age zero.
The critical impediment to our primary education arrangements however is not premature formal learning, but poor quality. What has beleaguered learning at primary level, over the last ten years in particular, have been the details of poor pedagogical instruction from Whitehall, rather than the principles. The set of policies which stands out most prominently is the National Literacy Strategy NLS). Recently described as ineffective expenditure by Cambridge University’s Primary Review, the muddled Strategy, rather than early learning, should be in the firing line when it comes to the demoralised and helpless pupils Professor Katz talks about. What has been so unsatisfactory about reading teaching under the NLS is not that the process starts under seven, but that the process is poor. The reformation of the NLS to commence with a systematic phonic-foundation, will hopefully address this.
Comments (1)
I taught myself to read before starting school. I am now a member of Mensa, and, as such, aware of many others with the same accomplishment; some, indeed, outdoing me by a good margin.
Where exactly are we supposed to fit in, in an education system where you are only supposed to be able to read when the teachers tell you you can?
I could say that it leaves me lost for words, although it is more likely to be a great many other people ending up in that position.
Posted by Peter Davey | November 26, 2007 11:18 AM
Posted on November 26, 2007 11:18