The Daily Howler - 08/30/05

WHY CALIXTO CAN’T READ! We asked ourselves what Calixto meant when he fumed to a scribe, “I can’t read:” // link // print // previous // next //

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2005

ALL WEEK, THOSE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLUES: All week, we’ll be discussing reports about those back-to-school blues. Since we think low-income kids deserve what they so rarely get—full attention—we won’t likely mix in other topics. Our conclusions on The Survivor will have to wait, although there is more to be said.

Special report: Back-to-school blues!

PART 2—WHY CALIXTO CAN’T READ: Obvious point—Bob Herbert’s heart is in the right place when it comes to American education (see THE DAILY HOWLER, 8/29/05). But sadly, that just isn’t enough—and it hasn’t been enough for the past thirty-five years. During that time, well-meaning liberals have mouthed bland cant about the problems of urban schools—and little real progress has been made in fighting the problems which Herbert describes. How bad are the actual problems? In Monday’s column in the New York Times, Herbert discussed the latest new study of American schools, this one commissioned by two liberal think tanks. Just try—just try—to comprehend the gravity of the situation described here:

HERBERT (9/29/05): An education task force established by the center and the institute noted the following:

''Young low-income and minority children are more likely to start school without having gained important school readiness skills, such as recognizing letters and counting...By the fourth grade, low-income students read about three grade levels behind non-poor students.