[CALIBK12] Literacy: More libraries, not more phonics (response to Garrison Keillor)

[Stephen Krashen]

Sent to the Salt Lake Tribune, February 3, 2008
Literacy: More libraries, not more phonics


Garrison Keillor  (“Where is St.Michael when you
really need him”? Feb. 2) thinks there is a
reading problem in the US and that phonics is the
answer.  The only reading problem we have is the
problem every country has: Children from low-income
families have less access to books at home, in school
and in their neighborhoods. As a result they read
less, and as a result of reading less, they read more
poorly. This has been documented again and again.   

The problem is not a failure to teach phonics:
Contrary to Mr. Keillor’s statements, every
child in the US is taught basic phonics.  The furor is
whether they should be taught “intensive
systematic phonics,” an extremist approach that
insists that all major rules of phonics be taught in a
strict order to all children, including many rules
that are extremely complex and have many exceptions.  

The Reading First program that Mr. Keillor is so
enthusiastic about has not produced any meaningful
improvement on national tests, despite billions of
dollars and hours of extra instruction.  

Our priority should be to help poor children get more
access to reading material. An obvious first step is
to strengthen public and school libraries in areas of
high poverty. 

Stephen Krashen

Note: Keillor’s essay, in two slightly different
versions and with different titles, has appeared in
many places, including the following: Salon (Jan 29),
Arizona Daily Star (Jan 29), Chicago Tribute (Jan.
30), Green Valley News (Jan. 31); Salt Lake City
Tribune (Jan. 31), Fort Worth Star Telegram (Jan. 31),
Baltimore Sun (Jan. 31),  Yakton Daily Press (Feb. 1),
San Antonio Express (Feb. 1),  Kansas City Star (Feb.
1), Kitsap Sun (Feb. 2).