Teaching is Rocket Science

The NICHD (Natl Inst for Childhood Health & Dev) considers reading failure to be a national public health concern. Not state but national. A health concern that in this day and age we as Americans in the greatest country in the world can't fix. How can that be possible? Our children have enough health concerns with swine flu and vaccines and the possibility that they are in fact causing our children's problems. Drugs and alcohol abuse are staring them right in the face and now they are faced with not being able to read, one of the most basic needs. Each and every child is entitled to a free and appropriate education. So why aren't they getting it? Better yet why aren't more people fighting to get their children the education they deserve? We need teachers to learn how to teach. Education schools aren't teaching elementary teachers about reading. And then parents are spending money on tutors to teach what the teachers aren't teaching!

On a side note, I spend a lot of time reading and researching learning disabilities. When I find something a little bit lighter to read, I like to pass it along. So once again my book review on the flip side of this madness is for another Emily Griffin book. You know her - she wrote Something Borrowed, Something Blue and Baby Proof. I just finished Love the One You're With. A story of Ellen and her having to choose between her college love and her husband. Great read. I like to escape to someone else's life and see the struggles they are encountering. Marriage is tough, kids are tough but I think I see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. I like to envision myself sitting comfortably overlooking my wine vineyard on a beautiful sunny day with my horse and dog next to me. My kids are grown, happy and successful and I am actually in love. We can all dream, can't we?