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Here is a copy of the open letter,
30 September 2005, to David Cameron, Conservative MP for Witney,
from Alan
Davies, Chartered Educational Psychologist, Chester,
concerning the MP's statement, "On literacy, we need
concrete action to enforce the use of synthetic phonics".
MR DAVID CAMERON:
ARTIFICIAL OR NATURAL SYNTHESIS?
As a UK Conservative
leadership contender, and possible future Prime Minister, you
stated on 29 September, that
"On literacy, we need
concrete action to enforce the use of synthetic phonics".
However, as is clear from the
reply to my letter dated 22 July 2005, neither you or Nick
Gibb, Conservative MP for Bognor Regis, fully understand what
synthetic phonics actually is - as Nick Gibb put it, "As
you know, I take a keen interest in this, and would welcome
the opportunity to meet you to discuss the distinction between
artificial and natural synthesis" (letter dated 3 August
2005, House of Commons).
Therefore, how can you insist
on 'concrete action to enforce synthetic phonics', when you
don't actually know what it is? What concrete action can be
used to enforce the use of synthetic phonics, if you don't
know what it is?
I reproduce below, as a
reminder, the last paragraph of my letter to you, published on
the internet in late July, by most of the world's largest
search engines (e.g. Google News, MSN News, Yahoo! News, Alta
Vista News, Excite News, Webcrawler News):
"On behalf of the
thousands of schools that use THRASS worldwide (Australian
school teachers attended over 400 days of training last year),
I would be grateful if you would let me know if Gyles
Brandreth was wasting his time, in sending my synthetic
phonics programme to Kenneth Clarke all those years ago,
because the Conservative Party now favours the artificial
synthesis approach to synthetic phonics? Or do you favour both
approaches?"
It is now public knowledge
that THRASS (Teaching Handwriting Reading And Spelling
Skills), is one of the phonics programmes to be investigated
by the British Government in the Rose Review, recently
instigated by Ruth Kelly, Minister of Education. Following my
meeting with Jim Rose at the DfES in London, on Friday, 23
September, I have submitted the names of five primary schools,
including some where phonics is taught 'throughout the whole
Foundation Stage', for OFSTED inspectors to visit. I have
stated that it is ESSENTIAL that a visit is made to Windsor
Clive Infant School, Grand Avenue, Ely, Cardiff, Wales. Vicky
Meadows, the headteacher, and her staff, have a school in a
very challenging area and since they changed from Jolly
Phonics (one of the programmes that you are promoting), the
school has gone from strength to strength.
Indeed, only a few weeks ago,
Dr Jean Place, Principal Tutor, Foundation Division,
University of Witwatersrand, flew from South Africa to watch a
day of demonstrations at the school. It is her view that the
standard of English phonics teaching, throughout the school,
is of the very highest standard. Jane Davidson AM, Minister
for Education, Welsh Assembly, has also visited the school and
been equally impressed by what she has seen, especially with
regards to the teaching of essential speaking and listening
skills in the nursery and special needs unit.
ITV News (Meridian Tonight)
have a news feature, filmed 21 September, soon to be
broadcast, that focuses on another of the schools that I have
recommended, Andrews Endowed Primary School, Alton, Hampshire,
along with an interview with Dr Roger Norgate, Consultant
Educational Psychologist, Hampshire LEA, who confirmed that
evidence, taken from eight schools in Hampshire, showed that
the children's average reading scores more than doubled during
the 8 months of the study and some children's reading ages
improved by over 3 years (a ratio gain of over 4, that is,
over four months progress per month).
BBC West Midlands 95.6FM will
be broadcasting an interview that I did with BBC presenter
Saul Abner. The broadcast will be on Sunday, 2 October,
between 7- 8pm. This will be via DAB digital radio, and
streamed online via http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiowm/ -
the interview includes discussion about the Botswana
Government's announcement to implement THRASS in 20 rural
schools in Serowe, the work I have been doing with schools and
universities in South Africa and the new THRASS PHONEME
MACHINE on the PHONICS 4 PARENTS website
www.phonics4parents.co.uk
Mr Cameron, people may not
agree with everything that Tony Blair does as Prime Minister
but as a possible future Prime Minister of this country, I
think you would be well advised to: visit Wales (and not just
Clackmannanshire, Scotland), watch the ITV News and listen to
BBC radio, before you make any further pronouncements on the
teaching of synthetic phonics.
I believe that the THRASS
programme, especially the new THRASS PHONEME MACHINE software,
is tantamount to a revolution in the teaching of English
phonics - a revolution that was prophesied by Glyes Brandreth,
former Conservative MP for Chester, when he sent my 1992
version of THRASS to the then Minister of Education, Kenneth
Clarke.
Copies:
Copies: Andrew Miller, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port &
Neston; Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield Chairman of
Education Select Committee; Ruth Kelly, Labour MP for Bolton
West, Secretary of State for Education
###
Further
information
UK:
Mike Meade, Media Director, THRASS UK 01829 741413 Mob: 07970
151 738 mikemeade@thrass.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL:
Chris Griffiths, International Development, THRASS UK +30 266
203 1207 chrisgriffiths@thrass.co.uk
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