Kudos to New York City for launching a new pilot program to put Core Knowledge in ten city schools. But what's the matter with Schools Chancellor Joel Klein that he can't get himself to admit that the "balanced literacy" program in use throughout the system is hogwash? "I view it as building on but not in any way repudiating [balanced literacy]--our results speak for themselves."
Mr. Chancellor, a couple of months ago you admitted to me and 300 of our closest friends that "Month by Month" phonics was a big mistake. Why not acknowledge that balanced literacy is screwy too? (Read this report to understand why.)
Sol Stern gets the last word: "I can finally say something nice about one of Klein's curriculum choices. Unfortunately, it's just a few schools in the sixth year of his administration. But at least it looks like he's educable."
