DiPardo

I know that it is only at the beginning, but I am so fixated on the meanings of words that I cannot help but wonder if all the debate is simply about differing opinions on what literacy and English Education really is. It seems to me that the dialogue we hear is less discourse as so few are really listening.  DiPardo et al. say, "...that all this debating is indicative of fundamentally different vies of the nature of knowledge, of the ultimate ends of education..." (295-6).

I think that is the real issue -- I propose that the goal of education was never that of creating graduates whose skills could be measured.  Rather the goal began as creating opportunities to seek knowledge and to explore and explain the world around us.

Greek education created dialogue and questioning, not a measurement of the facts memorized.  Clearly there was application as we see with the great philosophers, astronomers, mathemetician, etc..., but there was not the 'exit exam' nor the 'senior project' to evaluate the learner.  Furthermore, it was not for everyone --

As our goals in education have changed, so must our evaluation of the systems of education.  I am being overly simplistic here as I posit that one of the main issue we really need to discuss is whether we have subdivided our educational system into too many subject areas and/or we have properly designated that the same education should be for all. Should we have separate English, Literature, Social Studies, History, Mathematics, Science, and World Language sections or should we work more diligently to combine them for a more interconnected education for our learners?

Just thinking...

Clearly, DiPardo et al. also have questions about literacy and the roles of the stakeholders in education.  "...the very term 'literacy' is increasingly contested, as educators and test-makers endeavor tp keep pace with a broadening array of literated challanges..." (296).  Seems interesting that the group has chosen to separate the entities rather than combine them.  Is that one of the more telling issues at hand?

I just don't kow, to be honest.  Maybe the right research project would help me to more clearly address my concerns, but I don't know that that fits into the realm of just English....

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I appreciate the efforts to encourage teacher research, but I also know that the constraints on teachers' time are a bit of an obstacle for many of us....

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