readings: the income gap & early literacy

[fflo]

As Plutarch wrote almost 2000 years ago, quotes Robert H. Frank in this chock-full piece on the increasing income gap, "An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics."

Was talking to bigfinedaddy about this issue a bit yesterday. But more often today I've been thinking of her talk of early literacy. She'd been reading of possible damage we do by inculcating kids in the world of letters and such so early in their lives. Nosing around to read about it myself (with cues of Swedish law & the Waldorf Schools), I came across this issue (.pdf) of Waldorfy research/writing on the subject, much of it from a conference on "The Push for Early Childhood Literacy." Innarestin' stuff.

Comments

[vjsmom.livejournal.com]

I too am of the opinion that balance is the key. I have a slight bias against the Waldorf system myself, largely because of the school in B'more and some of the folks I know who send their kids there. On the other hand, I think that pushing children into too much too soon is a bit ridiculous also.

It's been really interesting watching Jeff's experience with learning to read. I don't think that we pushed him. We read to him, and he ended up memorizing some of his favorite books, as I think a lot of children tend to do. He get instruction in reading in school now, but he's made a lot of connections on his own--about how to sound out words and about how one word relates to another or how to figure out words from context and so forth. It's pretty fascinating to observe, really. (Plus, there is the fact that since I'm his mom, I do tend to think he's just the most fascinating kid on the planet.)

As far as play time goes, though, I don't think he's suffered. He plays outside (rides his bike, runs around, swings, plays ball, climbs trees) and inside (imaginative play, drawing, coloring, crafts, board games, computer & video games, and even reading for pleasure). He plays well by himself or with others. All in all, I think he's a pretty well-balanced kid who hasn't suffered a bit from learning to read at 5 1/2 or 6 instead of 7.

[fflo.livejournal.com]

Jeff certainly doesn't seem to be suffering from a lack of play, or from reading. It was way cool to watch those little bits of Spanish pronunciation sticking in him like that, as he switched between Where the Wild Things Are and Donde Viven Los Monstruous. I mean, wow. And then we went sledding (or whatever).

The only aspect of what I hear from you about his education that seems whack to me is all that homework---in kindergarten, especially. But even in first grade. Is it just to develop the habit, or do they really think it necessary for building some store of knowledge/skills a.s.a.p.? Is it a fast-track suburban must-prep-'em kinda thing? I also resent, on your behalf (I'm sure you appreciate it tremendously), that you can't just take him out of school for a day for a road trip or trip to the museum or whatever.