phonics politics

Jay Lemke (JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU)
Tue, 07 May 96 12:12:10 EDT

Interesting news from California ... such good timing between
those stories about the Texas pro-phonics research, published
in California, and the Wilson politicians-know-best approach
to education funding.

What I would like to know is how do people make the initial
connection between a theory of politics, or government, or
even a view of human nature and something like techniques for
reading instruction? Why couldn't phonics be a radical left-wing
idea? and WHole Language an arch-reactionary one? what does it
have to do with a smaller role for government in people's lives
(ha!), or (my personal view of conservative philosophy) a
fundamental belief that the poor are stupid and dangerous?

I know what these connections _are_ in the prevailing discourses
(though they are a little vague to me in the case of phonics,
and clearer for Whole Language) -- but how 'tight' are these
connections? in an alternative reality could we easily imagining
things turning out the other way round? are these connections
totally historically contingent, or is there some inner logic
in the relations of the discourses that lead them to ally in
certain ways? or in the practices and interests of the speakers
of these discourses?

I am quite fascinated by the politics of 'wedge issues' and the
way in which odd corners of human social practice get amplified
into powerful symbolic 'fronts' (or 'blinds') for major political
interests and alliances. Do people really care about these issues,
or are we just afraid to debate the issues we really do think
matter most?

JAY.

JAY LEMKE.
City University of New York.
BITNET: JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM
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