Re: Ideology of painless learning and teaching in institutional
KEN GOODMAN (kgoodman who-is-at CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU)
Fri, 19 Apr 1996 08:10:31 -0700 (MST)
The note on the work with Brasilian teachers strikes a chord with what I
believe is the most important aspecct of the whole language movement
=that is a redefinition of teaching and of the relationship of teaching
to learning. In the US in fact the heavy attacks in the press on whole
language is really an attack on teachers and learners and an attempt to
roll back thee changes that have occurred. In Latin America there are
wonderful new constructivist primary curricula in Mexico. Venezuela, Peru
but little or no resources to help teachers to understand the changes and
redefine themselves as teachers. I agree that teachers often see this as
a matter of control and discipline but it is more broadly the issue of
empowered teachers empowering learners in classrooms where planning is
collaborative and responsive to the needs of the learners. I agree also
that change needs to be gradual and teachers- like all learners need to
have time to plan their own transitions.
Ken Goodman
Incidentally, a Portuguese translation of my book "What's Whole in Whole
Language" is being published in Brasil soon.