020797 Timberlake confronted with Disabled students taught improperly
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Ms. Deborah Timberlake
President, Bedford Board of Education Rt. 172
Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
Dear Ms. Timberlake,
I enclose an article from today's Reporter Dispatch with the headline,
"Disabled students taught improperly, teacher says."
I would encourage our board of education to read this carefully as it
is certainly pertinent to our district. The gist of the testimony that
Phyllis Bertin gave to the United States Congress is that whole language
instruction is failing to teach our students to read and write. A
phonics-based instructional program, in her experience, works to get special
ed classified students back in the mainstream.
If whole-language does not work for special ed students, it stands to
reason that it may not be helpful to our mainstream students also. In
Phyllis Bertin's words, most schools are "curriculum disabled."
If you review the language arts framework the board adopted, you will
see that it is clearly a whole-language based approach to teach reading and
writing.
With 10% of our students classified as "learning disabled," it is
incumbent to look at our curriculum much more closely.
Perhaps the board could invite Phyllis Bertin to give a presentation.
I could make available to you, as well, the tape from the Charles Richardson
presentation at the Mt. Kisco Public Library.
President Clinton is making education is number one priority and I am
sure that you and I can agree on that end. Let's work together on this by
adopting what is best for students. I don't think Bedford Central will need
"literacy volunteers" in our classrooms. Our teachers can do the job.
Sincerely, Philip Christe
