Re: Whole language from the bottom-up.

KEN GOODMAN (KGOODMAN who-is-at CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU)
Thu, 21 Dec 1995 23:04:14 -0700 (MST)

No, California did not mandate whole language. The English language arts
framework is- as are most such policy documents- a compromise. In the ]
process of its development many teachers and other professionals
participated. The movement toward use of literature and away from basals
was well under way in California before it was recognized in the framework.
The framework- as all such state policies does not have the force of a
mandate. Local districts determine their own curriculum guided by the
frameworks. An issue in California as in other places is how widely and
deply the framework was implimented and where it was effective and where it
was not.

In general the teacher education programs have followed rather than led the
whole language movement. I would not say Phillip's experience was atypical
of how teachers became aware of and influenced to move toward whole language.
I think what he has missed is that it comes into a district through
teachers- may in fact move up into policy documents- particularly as
these teachers perform staff development and move into middle management as
principals and curriculum workers. That's very different than what happens-
with for example Slavin's Success for All- which comes in as a contract
between the district and Slavin and is imposed as a package: this is what
you must do.
Ken Goodman