Nonreading girl shocks readers
Dear Annie: I was surprised to read your response to “Molly’s Aunt,” whose 11-year-old home-schooled niece could neither read nor count to 100. However well-intended her parents may be, they are guilty of educational neglect, a classification that is a violation of child welfare statutes in most states. This aunt can call the child welfare hotline in her state to report this, as well as the state agency that licenses these programs. In either case, the parents will be held to a higher level of accountability than the word of another mother with no obvious standards. – Concerned in Kansas
Dear Concerned: Our readers were plenty hot under the collar about these parents. Read on for more:
From Ohio: Perhaps Molly’s niece is dyslexic and her parents don’t talk about her problems to others. My smart 11-year-old granddaughter reads very little because she is dyslexic. Her father taught himself to read after he graduated from high school.
Boston: Right now I’m about to hyperventilate about the 11-year-old who cannot read. That simple skill could save her life. It is the aunt’s business. We are our brother’s keeper. I’d call social services. I’d say more, but I’m sputtering.
New Hampshire: Bravo for your answer to “Molly’s Aunt.” It truly is none of her business. My wife and I follow a child-directed curriculum for our children, ages 8 and 11, and have every confidence in their ability to pursue the things that interest them, including basic skills like reading, writing and arithmetic. Molly’s aunt should worry more about the millions of children locked in classrooms for 12 years of their lives, where the lesson learned is that knowledge is meant only for instant regurgitation on demand.
Pennsylvania: As a teacher I was shocked by your answer. In my state, a fifth-grader is expected to have a firm command of arithmetic. Teachers are expected to act “in loco parentis.” Conversely, parents who home-school take on the responsibilities of the teacher. Those parents have been derelict in their duties.