IMHO reading competency starts at home, not in the classroom. Kids need to be interested in reading, and that's up to the parents more than it is to the school.
My very unique / personal take. Have been doing sight words with my 5yo for the last two weeks. He just started his second term of prep (pre year 1). He's not advanced as far as I can't tell, but I'll tell you it's exhilarating to watch his progress. He absolutely loves the challenge of it. And he's already sounding out and reading short, repetitive books based on known words. He's a lucky kid for so many reasons. Not a great case in point for the same.
All kids are different, with unique needs, and schools should be expected to adapt to these. But it's a two way street. If an individual isn't reading by fourth grade, after four years of schooling, then something is going on .. either at home or in a cognitive sense. If a whole class isn't reading, then sure - look at the curriculum ... but there's probably something more systemic at play.
> reading competency starts at home, not in the classroom.
You are correct. Those students that read with their parents and learn at home have a significant advantage.
Our education system however should do everything that it can to help those children that didn't have this advantage to catch up. I've read research in the past that shows good schools to bring those kids up to the same level, evidently reading the comments here it seems the US school system has significant issues.
> that's up to the parents more than it is to the school.
The reality is that some parents simply do not have the time and resources to provide this sort of support. The purpose of our educational system is to educate kids, not to supervise them while their parents do so.
In 1900 the literacy rate of the US was roughly 20%. Over the next century states and the federal government introduced mandatory educational requirements and expanded access to public education. By 2000 literacy is north of 80%.
Do you think literate citizens are less free to make choices than illiterate ones?
My very unique / personal take. Have been doing sight words with my 5yo for the last two weeks. He just started his second term of prep (pre year 1). He's not advanced as far as I can't tell, but I'll tell you it's exhilarating to watch his progress. He absolutely loves the challenge of it. And he's already sounding out and reading short, repetitive books based on known words. He's a lucky kid for so many reasons. Not a great case in point for the same.
All kids are different, with unique needs, and schools should be expected to adapt to these. But it's a two way street. If an individual isn't reading by fourth grade, after four years of schooling, then something is going on .. either at home or in a cognitive sense. If a whole class isn't reading, then sure - look at the curriculum ... but there's probably something more systemic at play.