Like, I get why people are excited about the new phonics. It’s actually based on linguistics and research on strategies that work best, instead of programs put together by teachers without any linguistics background. But we don’t need to make up villains to sell new phonics. It should sell itself.

I was taught to read mostly without phonics (I’m not sure it was EVER possible to teach entirely without it) but that hasn’t been acceptable practice since the 80s. The current freak-out over reading isn’t based on what’s actually happening. Although the new phonics IS vastly superior to old phonics

Anyone who claims that phonics is superior to sight reading isn’t aligned with the decades of research on reading. They’re both important and powerful tools, some kids will learn better with one over the other, and that’s why we’re supposed to teach both intertwined.

I will fight anyone on “kids today don’t read” (they do), or “cellphones cause anxiety,” (prove it), but the churning pool of anti-intellectualism, education as a customer/service relationship, and apathy isn’t made up.

I like this one way better than the concert one.

Rome‘s “civilization” project isn’t above criticism, but one of its greatest accomplishments was a definition of Roman-ness that didn’t necessarily depend on who your ancestors were. Humans have always moved around, & Rome recognized the incredible value in tying itself to the energy of that engine.

This was one of Caesar’s main agenda items, but the trend extends long before him & long after. People moving to the core from the provinces expanded trade networks and cultural capital. Grants of citizenship motivated participation in the army and in the state. Rome grew inwardly as well as outward