Customer Reviews

The Whole Language/Obe Fraud: The Shocking Story of How America Is Being Dumbed Down by Its Own Education System

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In 1955, Rudolf Flesch was blackballed by education's "cognitive elite" with the publication of his "Why Johnny Can't Read," which warned that the look-say reading method would cause widespread dyslexia and reading disability. Mr. Flesch was prophetic indeed, and the public schools never heeded his call to restore intensive, systematic phonics. Obviously, the smug education establishment will not appreciate "The Whole Language/OBE Fraud" either, since Mr. Blumenfeld equates their use of whole-language (an "enhanced" version of the dubious look-say method) with educational malpractice, and uses their own words to prove it. Although Mr. Blumenfeld is a conservative, facts are facts . . . and the facts are that whole-language is a very dangerous way to teach a child a read. This book should be read by all parents who wonder why their son or daughter has been labeled dyslexic or reading-disabled. Finally, a voice of reason in education.

This book really explains why whole language has failed so dismally, and just in case anyone thinks there is no problem with how we teach children to read in American schools, check out the Dept. of Education's 1998 reading achievement statistics. In 1998, 38% of American 4th graders could not read at a basic level; 26% for 8th graders; and 23% for 12th graders. We're not talking about reading complex textbooks or reading at an advanced level, these kids can't read at a BASIC level. The book also exposes how OBE is "dumbing down" our schools. Great book.

An expose by the author of the sinister activities of the educational elitists in this country. Why public education can't be fixed! Why we should get our children out of public school...NOW!

Blumenfeld's books is full of half-truths and distrotions about American education. Readers are better off with Berliner & Biddle's The Manufactured Crisis if they want an accurate, research-supported view of American schools.