The Effects of Fear of Instruction on Learning

Jay Parini: Research shows that in a couple of months, teachers can get the effects they're going for. When you look at what that's been translated to into practice is this notion kids should be learning comprehension strategies from kindergarten until 12th grade," he says. "You've turned it into 13 years of 180 days in fear of instruction" He asks if we really have reason to believe that if we do this year in and year out, kids are gonna do better?Parini: I mean, with phonics, at least we have a few studies showing that, man, you give a whole year of this and the kids do well.