Phonics In All Classrooms Claim Unsupported
Tuesday, 14 August 2001, 6:34 pm
Press Release: New Zealand First Party
Media Release
14th August 2001
Phonics In All
Classrooms Claim Unsupported By Evidence
"The claim
made by NZEI President, Amanda Coulston, that most teachers
use a mix of phonics and whole language methods could not be
supported by the evidence," said New Zealand First Education
Spokesperson, Hon Brian Donnelly MP.
While Amanda Coulston
might know that that is what should be happening in
classrooms, the evidence suggests no grounds for such
confidence and it is that confidence that needs to be shaken
by the Select Committee Report into the Teaching of
Reading.
When on two occasions, different sub-committees
from the same institution gave diametrically opposed views
on the realities of classroom programmes, one has to have
doubt.
What the select committee is recommending is that
we ensure the Amanda Coulston's view of classroom practice
is a
reality.
ENDS
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