Freedom Flyer 21

Jois and glad to and net clows and patrin and Good colrs to and big sombrero and net wips.

A child without diagnosed learning problems wrote that sentence in Grade 3, says parent Bonnie Cumming.

The boy's next report card stated it is "easy to read his approximated spellings,"

In Grade 5, the same child was asked to list simple household tools. The list includes "nif, frk, spon," "pansl," "talafon," "Ion more" and "ti catl."

That's knife, fork, spoon, pencil, telephone, lawnmower and tea kettle.

BIG CROWD: Cumming - and more than 200 others concerned with language education in London schools - crowded into the London board of education chambers Tuesday night to make presentations on "whole language," the approved teaching method used in London schools since 1987.

Cumming was one of 29 presenters who gave either oral or written presentations to the board's program committee, which is responsible for overseeing how and what is taught in the city's public classrooms.

She said the child in question finally, made spelling progress as well as better neatness in his work after private tutoring.

"What happens when the language program doesn't present the results the system says it will?" asked Cumming. "A faulty education isn't something you can return for a refund. like a washing machine... this is our children's future."

Cumming said the teaching methods now used where teachers follow a child's own pace and teach by encouragement, rather than criticizing when a child doesn't reach high standards, backfire in the end. "if work a student presents is always acceptable, always presentable, no matter what it's like, that is all you will ever get."

Several trustees and education director Darryl Skidmore commented on the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the presentations, which contained references covering everything from 18th century French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau to bibliography lists of modern-day education specialists.

Skidmore said he plans to release a directive to the board today giving "quality assurance a higher profile and commitment throughout this system ... The London board of education must be willing to put its reputation on the line." While he didn't discuss specifics of his directive, he said the reforms "deal with accountability head-on" and will cover everything from what's taught in the classroom to staff assessment.