Show Sunflowers By Janet Wallis What if b looked like lid d What if you saw saw as was and vice versa What looked like dr d Would you feel confused These are some of the problems discussed by Reid Goodrich in a newly published book sent recently to the Ex Ex- Express press for review In case you dont don't know Goodrich he was born in Vernal and taught school In Inthe inthe the Uintah District He is married to Joella Merkley is a and lives in Idaho His book entitled Your Child Can Learn to Read the Eldom Syndrome presents research observations and tests to substantiate the premise that dominance left affects ones one's ability to learn to read Also included ar are some specific ideas of how to help the child with left left- dominance cope in a right dominant world One of the case histories included tells about Deanna a year sixteen high school sophomore who had been iden- iden identified identified as a failing student early in elementary school She had developed mental blocks against learning to read Her lack of reading skills and negative attitude seriously limited her academic growth She wrote with her right hand but was tested to be left dominant I prefer to regard her as a potential potential- potentially ly g gifted ted child who is the victim of a system more designed to destroy children like her than to bring forth their best says Goodrich In order to help children like Dean Dean- Deanna Deanna na we need to provide the help before they are more than eight or nine years old if we are to be very confident of suc- suc success success cess Children who fall fail to learn to read by this age very seldom ever do observes Goodrich Go Goodrich also makes some unusual observations about teachers Teachers are you prepared for this Teachers generally fit into one of two groups The first group are dedicated loyal thankful and tolerant They are dedicated to a seven hour day three month vacation teachers associations paychecks attendance schedules punitive discipline policies and the te teachers chers lounge They are loyal to their teachers association other dedicated and loyal teachers time part jobs teachers bargaining for better pay lighter classroom loads and personal leave policies policies- They are thankful for bells the end of the day liberal sick leave rigid atten- atten attendance attendance dance policies and punitive grading practices tices practices that put students in their place and relieve the teachers of the necessity of accountability They are thankful for tex tex- textbooks textbooks that have outlined work assignments and questions at the end of the chapters chapter workbooks for students and teachers editions with all the answers answers- answers They are tolerant of principals custo- custo custodians custodians playground or hall duty and the school secretary secretary- They are tolerant of parents who attend parent teacher con con- ask too many questions and accept the responsibility for their childrens children's poor attendance tardiness and failing grades They may even be tolerant of the psychologist if he will tell them how to force students to fit into their classrooms classrooms- They are completely dependable whether they have been on the job four months four years or forty They stead stead- steadfastly maintain their position effective effective- effectively effectively ly passing the buck year after year whenever someone questions a students student's behavior in the classroom om They are committed to non non- involvement noninvolvement with students students- They students They insist that they are overworked underpaid and not appreciated They continue to hide behind the rights and privileges of a teacher not being held accountable for teaching children who do not learn The second group in their narrow narrow- minded way believe the students are the reason we have schools and think that all teachers should agree They are always getting involved in the personal lives of their students They are always studying and searching for new or different ideas trying new approaches or asking for help from anyone they think might hap hap- happen happen pen to have some counselor counsel or a word of wisdom to pass on- on Even Goodrich admits that no teacher fits completely into one group or the theother theother other but is found somewhere Of teachers Goodrich concludes Teaching Is a demanding profession occupied by some who demand everything they can possibly get and by others who give everything they can Goodrich also has his own opinions about testing and especially about teaching reading And for those of you who have children with reading problems you may want a copy of Goodrich's book Its It's available through Vantage Press Inc West Street New York NY IC r J The moving fastest glacier In the world Is the In Greenland which flows 80 65 feet per da day |