NCTE has been hijacked by the constructivists Date sent: Wed, 24 Dec 1997 09:01:53 -0800 From: Charles Schwarze Send reply to: cschwarz@ix.netcom.com To: Chark2@ix.netcom.com Copies to: education-consumers@tricon.net Subject: Re: NCTE Standards NCTE has been hijacked by the constructivists the same way as the NCTM. I monitor the listserv Teachers Applying Whole Language. They have had a very active discussion about what they can do to politicize how children learn to read based on what they learned at this year's NCTE conference. One of the most disturbing changes they are trying to make is the definition of literacy. It no longer has to include reading/comprehending the written word. Instead its okay to have icon literacy and environmental print literacy--you know recognizing what the "Golden Arches" stand for. I would be concerned same as Dan and Charlene. What has the high school dropped in favor of the NCTE recommendations? Also, as a little plug--check out the NEW California English/Language Arts Standards adopted in November. They are actually quite rigorous. Leslie Schwarze EDUCATION CONSUMERS CLEARINGHOUSE