Fall in reading standards

With 20% of the adult being functionally illiterate, one could be forgiven for believing that improving literacy standards among youngsters would be a major election issue. A similar proportion of youngsters are unable to read at the age of 11. Yet it is an issue being discussed only in the periphery of politics, in Parliamentary Committees and tucked away in newspapers.

One reason for the fall in reading standards among youngsters- which probably has an impact on adult literacy- is the way reading is taught. The traditional approach, which seems to work well all over the world, is to focus on phonics or sounds of letters and combinations of letters. Research shows that learners can pick up reading skills fairly speedily using this approach. It is by no means a magic bullet, but it works. The modern, ‘whole word’ approach, places reliance on discovery and association, in an attempt to encourage self expression and creativity.

Like many things in our modern, anything goes, non committal age, I think this approach is fuzzy and ineffective. Few can doubt the desirability of cultivating creativity and self expression. Yet literacy, the ability to read and write, is important to creativity. Creativity is stifled unless we can read to acquire new ideas and enhance our vocabulary. The wider we read the stronger powers of expression we acquire.

The traditional phonic approach is not didactic and it does not stifle young people. It sets the foundation that allows creativity to flow. There should be no illusions about the phonic approach, but neither should it be rejected. If something works, it doesn’t need changing.