When did math cease to become math? When did "old" math become obsolete and "new" math become preferred. Doesn't two-plus-two still equal four? Doesn't the sum of A-plus-B still equal C? When did numbers stop speaking for themselves?
I am not totally familiar with what is taught in third grade these days, but I'll wager a bet that it is more sophisticated than when Dick and Jane were in the third grade, along with Spot, the dog. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to sub in a third grade classroom for the day and I was surprised with the math, social studies, reading and science curricula. The higher level of thinking that was required was impressive. Gone was my day of mimeographed worksheets, where repetition ruled. Instead, each desk had number lines taped across each top and the students had little, colored "blocks" with which to play, and lessons were presented that encouraged critical thinking. Obviously, this is a simplistic description but, on the surface, that is exactly how a lay-person could describe what I saw that day.
When well-meaning people throw about the phrase, "keep it at a third-grade level", I think we need to be very careful to not insult third-graders. Have you seen the reading list for Accelerated Readers that is provided to third graders? Dick and Jane are no longer running up the hill, chasing the ball and throwing it to Spot. No longer do we "See Dick run." or "See Jane chase Dick." Yes, illiteracy is a problem in our nation, but there are many of our citizens who are highly capable of reading above a third-grade level and would, in fact, be insulted to be fed reading material that was intentionally "dumbed down".
Before we assume what "a third-grade reading level" is, perhaps we should go to the library and see, for ourselves, just what is considered to be a "third-grade" reading level. Just because a person has been awarded a bachelor's degree does not mean that intelligence, wisdom, and common sense were also conferred upon that individual. Just because "big" words are eliminated from text does not mean that effective communication is present and that the facts have been accurately represented nor explained. Perhaps the people who write text for us adults who need a third-grade reading level, in order to comprehend, should be actual third-grade students.
Maybe adult-level reading material could just be written well; i.e. effectively, correctly, accurately, succinctly and objectively. I think we can handle it.
Ancora imparo
