Just Asking Questions Deb Fillman: Why Do We Send Kids to School?
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Aug 14, 2025 Deb Fillman, creator of The Reason We Learn, critiques the current state of American education as a teacher, tutor, and homeschool parent. She discusses the literacy crisis and its ties to teaching methods, emphasizing the importance of the Western canon. Fillman explores how digital culture affects learning, particularly in terms of reading habits. She raises concerns over socioeconomic disparities and argues against collectivist trends in education. The conversation also delves into the complexities of school choice and its implications for individual freedom in education.
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Education ≠ School
- Education and school are not the same; education is how we learn to live independently while school is a specific institution.
- Deb Fillman emphasizes education can come from many sources and looks different per person.
Make Early Reading Nonnegotiable
- Ensure every non-disabled eight-year-old reads full novels independently and can summarize them.
- Prioritize decoding, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and stamina over prolonged decoding instruction.
Phonics Decline Explains Literacy Drop
- Literacy decline tied to decades-long shifts away from phonics toward whole-language methods.
- Deb links this to lowered standards justified emotionally and professionally in teacher training.
