Re: east/west / whole language

KEN GOODMAN (kgoodman who-is-at CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU)
Fri, 31 May 1996 14:27:13 -0700 (MST)

I may have missed something, but I don't recall a discussion of whole v.
phonics here. Whole language is not one size fits all. It does
incorporate Dewey's idea of making school fit learners rather than making
learners fit schools- In that sense it is the opposite of one-size fits all.
Ken Goodman

On Thu, 30 May 1996, Peter Smagorinsky wrote:

> Judy, a couple of points: my comments were originally intended for Chuck and
> not wider distribution, and so were less tactful than they would have been
> had I posted them directly to xmca. Second: I haven't saved the messages
> and so can't point specifically to those that led me to the statement.
> Beyond that, my sense of the wl discussion was that whole language (which
> was never defined) was characterized as something that "works" in contrast
> to phonics (also never defined) that doesn't.
>
> At 02:33 PM 5/30/96 -0400, you wrote:
> >
> >Peter,
> >Can you say more about how the xmca discussion has presented
> >WL as a one-size-fits-all approach? I wasn't aware of it and
> >would appreciate any insights you have to offer past my
> >own blindsides.
> >
> >- Judy
> >
> >>I thoroughly agree that the enactment of policies is uniquely situated,
> >>which is why I've been bothered by the idea of whole language as a
> >>one-size-fits-all approach to teaching as discussed on xmca.
> >
> >
> >Judy Diamondstone
> >Graduate School of Education
> >Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
> >10 Seminary Place
> >New Brunswick, NJ 08903
> >
> >diamonju who-is-at rci.rutgers.edu
> >.................................................
> >
> >
> >
> Peter Smagorinsky
> University of Oklahoma
> Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum
> College of Education
> 820 Van Vleet Oval
> Norman, OK 73019-0260
> (w) 405-325-3533
> fax: 405-325-4061
> psmagorinsky who-is-at uoknor.edu
>
>