Teachers Say They Already Use Phonics

Teachers have a question for lawmakers who want to return to a “hooked on phonics” strategy of teaching kids to read: We’re already using phonics, so why politicize the issue?

One lawmaker has a ready answer.

“Reading is phonics,” declared Senate Education Chairman Harold Hochstatter, R-Moses Lake, writing recently for the Washington Conservative Caucus.

“Anyone who claims to teach reading by some method other than phonics isn’t teaching reading at all, but is offering some weak substitute for it.”

State schools chief Terry Bergeson disagrees. She supports phonics and a range of teaching methods, she says - she just doesn’t want lawmakers getting too involved in how teachers do their jobs.

The House and Senate this week passed bills that call for a phonics grant program for schools that are having trouble teaching kids to read. Backers plan to negotiate their differences and are trying to court Gov. Gary Locke’s support.

Locke has hinted at a veto and instead wants the Legislature to provide financial support for classrooms, including a volunteer corps of reading tutors.

The plan offered by Hochstatter would provide about $15 million for low-achieving schools that apply for grants. The money could be used for reading programs including - but not limited to - phonics. It also could be used for teacher training for tutors.

The debate centers on the merits of phonics as opposed to the “whole language” method currently in vogue.