Letters to the Editor
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‘A Libertarian Is Searching For an Education ‘Plan B”
The libertarian approach to improving public schools has never in and of itself been enough to improve public schools, and it has long been obvious, as Sol Stern points out, “that curriculum and pedagogy should be considered along with market solutions” [New York, “A Libertarian Is Searching For an Education ‘Plan B,'” January 14, 2008].
For this reason the only charter schools that have succeeded are those which adopted rich content and proven teaching methods.
Although Thomas Carroll rightly calls for “a moment of reflection,” it should be added that a moment should suffice. There is no need to ponderously “search” for “Plan B.”
While maintaining the market approach, the schools should, one, adopt E.D. Hirsch Jr.’s “cultural literacy” program, which re-establishes rigorous literature, math, etc., and, two, employ the traditional, teacher-centered pedagogies demonstrated by Jeanne Chall, in the Academic Achievement Challenge, to be effective.
CANDACE de RUSSY
Bronxville, N.Y.
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