SKrashen:
A weapon of mass distraction
Sent to the New York Times, April 11, 2014Yes, there's a big problem with the tests ("We need to talk about the tests," April 10). but there's a bigger problem: The whole idea of the common core. Accurately described by Susan Ohanian as “a radical untried curriculum overhaul and ... nonstop national testing," the common core is an outrageous scheme with no justification and no empi
APR 07
What scientific research says about bilingual education
Sent to the Boston Globe, April 7, 2014Not mentioned in the discussion of dual language schools in Dever ("Teachers, parents protest end of bilingual program," April 7) is the overwhelming evidence that bilingual education works. MCAS scores are unscientific. They are influenced by many factors that have nothing to do with the the efficacy of bilingual education, eg. students changing sc
APR 06
Extensive reading: good for old folks
Sent to the Japan Times, April 5, 2014Prof. Matthew Claftin's successful effort to improve the English book collections in the Iwakura Public Library is an important step forward in English Education ("Read up on ways that can help us learn English," April 6). There is overwhelming evidence that extensive self-selected reading is the major source of advanced vocabulary and grammar in bo
APR 02
Testing Talk: A Weapon of Mass Distraction
The testing discussion: A Weapon of Mass DistractionStephen KrashenWe are invited to give our opinions about the content of common core tests on a website called "testing talk" (http://testingtalk.org). We are not invited to discuss whether we need the tests or for that matter whether we should have the common core. For those who haven't been paying attention, the common core will impo