> This announcement is from the National Council of Teachers of English,
> and I thought some on this list might be interested.
>
> Randy Bomer
> Queens College, CUNY
>
>
> URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
>
> CHILDREN WHO ARE LEARNING TO READ TODAY NEED YOUR HELP!
>
> Federal legislation which would restrict how reading is taught across
> the country is very close to being passed. ACTION ON THIS LEGISLATION
> WILL BE TAKEN BY JULY 1! Please read this message and learn how you
> can get involved and influence the course of events in Washington. It
> is not too late to have a positive impact on the teaching of literacy
> for years to come.
>
> There are now two competing versions of the reading bill pending final
> action in Congress, and urgent action is needed. The original Reading
> Excellence Act, with all its problems, has been connected to the
> Coverdell Education Savings Account legislation, and is expected to be
> vetoed by President Clinton. At the same time, a version worthy of our
> support has come out of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human
> Resources and it awaits action by the full Senate.
>
> ***We urge you to write or call your Senators immediately to encourage
> them to support the Senate version of HR2614 as amended by the Labor
> and Human Resources Committee. This version (known as the Jeffords
> version) has been wholly rewritten.***
>
> Why support the new version?
>
> < It leaves the right to define reading, research, literacy, and
> professional development where it should be--with educators, parents,
> and policy makers at the local level.
>
> < The bill provides for extensive professional development in
> reading instruction to assure that every child is taught to read by a
> well-qualified teacher of reading.
>
> < The bill avoids the overly restrictive language which confines
> applicable research to "reliable, replicable" findings and instead
> calls for the "best available" research.
>
> The Jeffords/Senate version of HR2614 provides a framework for
> professional development that respects teacher involvment, values
> local decision making, and uses a rich array of research and
> curriculum development sources. It provides the basis for assuring
> that all students learn to read well. It would provide a future we
> could live with.
>
> The Coverdell and Goodling versions of HR2614, on the other hand,
> would close the door on professional development not grounded in a
> pre-defined "reliable, replicable" model--a one-size-fits-all
> approach. Reading and research would be controlled and defined
> through government action. The field of possibilities for future
> research would be restricted by definitions written by a small group
> of researchers, and without the involvement of teachers who really
> know the students affected. We cannot afford to allow our childrens
> future as literate citizens to be restricted by such legislation.
>
> Remind your Senators of the rapidly growing demands for high-level
> literacy, and of their need to provide access to the developing body
> of vital research in literacy and language development that all
> teachers need. America cannot afford to build a future in which our
> children are given anything less than the absolute best we know about
> how reading is learned, developed, and supported. NCTE supports
> literacy learning for lifelong achievement, and we ask our Senators to
> join us in that vision.
>
> Phone: 202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard)
> You can find names and contact information for your Senators on the US
> Senate Website: www.senate.gov
>
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This announcement is from the National Council of Teachers of English, and I thought some on this list might be interested.Randy Bomer
Queens College, CUNY
--------------C1FAD120D9F5EA0F7E5CAD2A--URGENT ACTION NEEDED! CHILDREN WHO ARE LEARNING TO READ TODAY NEED YOUR HELP! Federal legislation which would restrict how reading is taught across the country is very close to being passed. ACTION ON THIS LEGISLATION WILL BE TAKEN BY JULY 1! Please read this message and learn how you can get involved and influence the course of events in Washington. It is not too late to have a positive impact on the teaching of literacy for years to come. There are now two competing versions of the reading bill pending final action in Congress, and urgent action is needed. The original Reading Excellence Act, with all its problems, has been connected to the Coverdell Education Savings Account legislation, and is expected to be vetoed by President Clinton. At the same time, a version worthy of our support has come out of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and it awaits action by the full Senate. ***We urge you to write or call your Senators immediately to encourage them to support the Senate version of HR2614 as amended by the Labor and Human Resources Committee. This version (known as the Jeffords version) has been wholly rewritten.*** Why support the new version? < It leaves the right to define reading, research, literacy, and professional development where it should be--with educators, parents, and policy makers at the local level. < The bill provides for extensive professional development in reading instruction to assure that every child is taught to read by a well-qualified teacher of reading. < The bill avoids the overly restrictive language which confines applicable research to "reliable, replicable" findings and instead calls for the "best available" research. The Jeffords/Senate version of HR2614 provides a framework for professional development that respects teacher involvment, values local decision making, and uses a rich array of research and curriculum development sources. It provides the basis for assuring that all students learn to read well. It would provide a future we could live with. The Coverdell and Goodling versions of HR2614, on the other hand, would close the door on professional development not grounded in a pre-defined "reliable, replicable" model--a one-size-fits-all approach. Reading and research would be controlled and defined through government action. The field of possibilities for future research would be restricted by definitions written by a small group of researchers, and without the involvement of teachers who really know the students affected. We cannot afford to allow our childrens future as literate citizens to be restricted by such legislation. Remind your Senators of the rapidly growing demands for high-level literacy, and of their need to provide access to the developing body of vital research in literacy and language development that all teachers need. America cannot afford to build a future in which our children are given anything less than the absolute best we know about how reading is learned, developed, and supported. NCTE supports literacy learning for lifelong achievement, and we ask our Senators to join us in that vision. Phone: 202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard) You can find names and contact information for your Senators on the US Senate Website: www.senate.gov