davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Mother Dissents

To the Editor:
Seldom have I read in any
newspaper anything as absurd
as DR.. Flesch's article. I do not
have a doctorate. honorary or
otherwise. but I do have a first
grade child in the Falls Church
public schools.
Now, / cannot say where DR..
Flesch gathers his information,
but it certainly was not in Falls
Church. My child was taught
in private kindergarten and is
now being taught in public school
what sounds certain letters and
combinations of letters make.
She can figure out words with
the best She, poor child,
must deal with the English Ian
guage where "a" may be pro-
nonnced one way in one word
and quite differently elsewhere.
This calls for certain amount
of memorization of words.
It is my understanding that
this combination of memorial
ton and phonetics is the latest
and best method of teaching
reading. l cannot believe that
Falls Church alone uses this
method but am confident that,
if DR.. Flesch looks around. he
will find it is widely If not uni
versally used. -.
Miriam L. Hilliker
(Mrs. Grant Hilliker)
623 Laura drive,
Falls Church, Va.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25

Johnny Can't Read" Something
like this has been long overdue.
My son. now almost %. to-
gether with all his boy friends,
were all poor readers. When
attended PTA meetings or talked
to teachers I constantly harped
on the subject that there must
be something wrong with a sys-
tenn of teaching which could
produce so many poor readers,
but the only answer ! received
was You are old fashioned" ]
finally gave up.
The colleges have been aware
for quite a while of the lower
educational standards of stu
dents desiring to enter, so per-
haps after this exposure of the
reading problem other changes
could profitably be made in the
methods of teaching and also
subjects covered. Perhaps they
could eliminate many of the I'M
necessary and foolish activities
which consume so much of the
school day but do not benefit q
student in later life.
n NJ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Agrees WhoIeheurtedIy
To the Editor:

. ~ S@AN A-AASSA
Having read the first two art
icles by DR.. Flesch and the re-
buttal by DR.. Burr CDR. Samuel
Engle Burr. jr., chairman, edu-
cation department. American
University I must agree with
DR.. Flesch Fundamentally. am
professional pianist whose
hobby is languages and should
like to point out the great, SIM
ilarity between reading words
and reading music.
To become a good music read
err one must learn to identify the
notes and their places on the
slaves as well as on the key
board. Following this one deals
with combinations of notes and
chords, and lastly, with matters
of expression. DR.. Burr's dis
paragement of reading in a for
eign language without under
standind the words is specious,
for who knows the meaning of
all the words in a dictionary of
his own tongue? The thing is
first to be able to spell them.
and then you can look them up.
Our forefathers were un-
doubtedly better readers than
we. and became so without the
endless primers. Lincoln. for
example. learned the alphabet
and then proceeded with a few
books. such as the Bible. and the
result is history. 1t is time
someone took the self assured
experts down a peg.
Arthur Borsky,
so Longfellow street NV.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
wrong with the way they try to

wrong with the way they try to
read. --
They don't see letters. they
don't see syllables. They try to
gobble the word down whole and
If it is a word they haven't
memorized they are completely
stuck; can't begin to read 1t or
try to pronounce it. They can't
see the letters in it. These are
a sort of scramble in their minds
in no order whatever.
After visiting the grade schools
and seeing how they learn to
read" I could understand this
"Train"-the shape of the word
looks like a choo-choo train,
so you memorize the word by its
shape! Not letters-shape!
Parents, you oughtn't to take
it. With some of our clever
inventions in educational meth
DDS we have been doing your
children harm that some Of
them will never get over and
from which most of them will
suffer. Don't blame these things
on the teachers. They have to
follow orders.
A Teacher,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Why Johnny Can't Read
Chapter 4-Whot Is Phonics
Chupter 4EWhut Is Phonics

Phonics isn't a word that is In
common use. You probably think
It's technical subject that an
ordinary person would flnd diff
cult to understand. Nonsense
Phonics is perfectly simple. Any
normal adult can grasp it in one
easy lesson.
Let's begin by distinguishing
between phonics and phonetics.
Phonetics, the dictionary says is
"the science dealing with speech
sounds" 1t is a technical subject.
Studying phonetics means study
ing a phonetic alphabet. dia-
critical marks, technical terms,
and many other scientific tools
and techniques. Phonetics is
definitely not the thing to use
if you want to teach small chill
dren to read and write.
Therefore, about so years or
so ago. those who believed in
teaching reading by the phonetic
method invented a way Of doing
1t without using any special SYM
bols or special Technology. They
called this phonics; according to
the dictionary, phonics is Sim
plified phonetics for teaching
reading"
Let's begin with the sounds you
make when you talk.
How Many Sounds?
How many of those sounds are
there? Scientists don't fully
agree on that point; besides, not
everybody speaking English
makes the same sounds. How
ever, if you want to arrive at a
practical number. there is a SIM
pie way: Count the items in the
pronunciation key Of an ordi-
nary desk-size dictionary or
handbook of English and see how
many different sounds have a
special symbol assigned to them.
For example, the pronuncia-
ton key in the "Thorndike-
Barnhart High School Diction-
airy" has 43 items; the pronun-
citation key in PERKINS, Writers
Guide and Index to English" also
has 40. However, each Of these
books includes one item the
other one does not:
Perrin lists VIII for the first
sound in wheel and whether,
which isn't given in Thorndike-
Barnhart; and Thorndike-Barn-
hart has the a sound in care
and air, which isn't in Perrin.
Perrin adds at the end OF his
list: IAN r following a vowel
changes the vowel's sound, as in
care, sere. core, sure, but a sep
arate symbol is not used to rep
resent the change
From these two typical sources
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
BY RUDOLF FLESCH

you therefore get A sounds that
can be distinguished in English
or rather. A symbols that you
would need If you wanted to
construct an English phonetic
alphabet.
Superfiuous Letters
Actually. as you know. we have
not A letters but rs. Not only
that. three of our 26 letters are
superfluous, namely, c. Q, and x.
&C has the sound of either k or S.
gu stands for XIV. and sounds
like ks in six and like gz in
exist This leaves us with %
letters to represent A sounds.
And there you have the basic
reason for our whole reading
problem.
Nevertheless, ridiculous as this
setup is, it's the system we've
got. so let's see how it can be
taught. Let's begin by learning
the letters or letter combinations
that stand for each Of our a
sounds. Here they are:
Twenty-Five of the A sounds
are consonants. Eighteen Of
these come in pairs, soft" and
hard:
B and p as in bib and pup.
D and t as in dad and toot.
G and k as in gag and kick.
v and as in valve and fluff.
z and as in zig-zag and Sis.
TIL Csoft') and tn c"hardD
as in thither and thistle.
w and VIII as in hayward and
whistle.
j and CHI as in jam and choo-
choo-train.
Zh and sh as in treasure
and trash.
The Semivowels
Then there are six consonants
called semivowels: ! as in lull,
m as in nam. n as in nun, r
as in rare, y as in yo-yo. and
ng. which is not combination of
n and but an altogether diff
ferent sound. Listen to your
self when you say singing or
bangingJ The sound of ng also
occurs before the sound of k
in words spelled with nk-drink,
mink, pink.
Eighteen plus six makes "a
consonants. The twenty fifth
consonant is has in his or hers.
Now let's look at the remain
ing 10 vowel sounds and the
symbols that represent them in
writing. Before we do that, how
ever. let's do a simple bit of
arithmetic. So far we have used
up 10 letters to write our Is
consonants, namely, b, C, d, f,
g, h, j. k. !, m. n, p, r. S, t, v, W.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Magazine Stand

The Maryland Teacher, pub
LEGATION of the Maryland State
Teachers Association, contains
an article attacking DR.. Flesch's
book on grounds of lover SIM
Publications.. Misrepresentation
and distortions of truth"
The article. in the latest is
sue of the publication is in the
form of a letter to DR.. Flesch
1t is written by Sidney Durros,
director of publications for the
teachers organization.
1.-THE average Johnny today
is a much better reader than
his counterpart of a few decades
ago." the letter says. Mr.. Dur
roS claims DR.. Flesch has not
described current Institutional
techniques accurately. DR.. Flesch
would find many classrooms in
Maryland which do not match
his unfavorable descriptions of
typical" American classrooms,
according to Mr.. Durros.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Endorses FIesch Book

To the Editor:
AS a teacher I confirm all that
DR.. FleSch has said.
I have watched with pain
what the lower grades have been
doing to our children for many
years. I teach them a phonetic
foreign language in high school.
It is a kind of experimental
laboratory for revealing what is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
The Perfect Reader?

Carl F. Hansen, associate su-
perintendent of schools. Wash
ington:
I've read Flesch's book with
much interest. There is so
much in 1t that is superficiality
at its worst. that is educational
Journalism designed to sensa-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25

More comment poured in to-
day on DR.. Rudolph Flesch and
his book, why Johnny Can't
Read"
The cto +ay,oy,fc foI1ovy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Color Blindness

NEW YORK.-Red-green color
blindness affects about 8 per cent
of all men, but only about l per
cent of all women.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Cheers for FIesch
To the Editor

TO the EdltOr:
Three cheers for the articles
by DR.. FleSch titled, why
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25

y, and q. In addition, there are
two more superf1uous letters that
also represent consonant COM
binatitonS: q and x. In other
words, we have used up 81 OF
the Is letters to write the con-
sonants. which leaves us with
exactly five-a, e, i. o. Ito deal
with 10 vowel sounds. And this
is where English spelling gets
really nasty.
! Vowel Sounds
Here are the 10 vowel sounds
! First, there are the five So
called short vowels. as in bag,
beg, big, bog, bug.
Second. there are the five So
called long vowels as in mate,
mete. mite, mote. mute. AS you
see, these long vowels are spelled
like the short ones, but with a
| following the vowel. They can
also be spelled in a variety OF
other ways: You can use al and
ay for the long a: ee and ca
| for the long e: lie. y. and We for
the long /; GA, oe. and ow for
| the long o; and lie and ew for
the long u.
Next, we have three diph-
thongs combinations of two
sounds each with two different
spellingS: au as in Paul and
crawl. GU as in spouse and COW,
and OF as in noise and boy.
Next, a long and a short 90,
as in Rube and boob, and whoosh
and push.
Next, the sound of ah as in
pa and ma, bar and car.
Next. two r vowels: air as in
Fair heirs dare swear, and or
as in Girls prefer fur.
! Finally: the all-purpose NUT
tering vowel we use in unac-
cented syllables regardless of
the spelling-the a in drama,
the e in item, the in devil
the o in button, the u in circus.
And that's the end Of our "a
item-list a highly imperfect
system, to be sure. but never
theless a system that can be
explained and taught without
throwing up your hands in de-
spair and going back TO Chinese
word learning.
Tomorrow - Why Johnny
Can't Spell. Are reading and
spelling two different things?
Can Johnny learn to spell by
the word guessing method?
Why do SO many people make
common mistakes in spelling?
tFrom the book why Johnny Can't
Rad by Rudolf Fiesch. Copyright.
1850, by Harper e. Bros, Distributed
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25

Here are letters to The Star
from readers:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25
Thouqht-qettinq

The statements follow
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25

Tomorrow - Why Johnny
Can't Spell. Are reading and
spelling two different things?
Can Johnny learn to spell by
the word guessing method?
Why do SO many people make
common mistakes in spelling?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-25

tFrom the book why Johnny Can't
Rad by Rudolf Fiesch. Copyright.
1855. by Harper e. Bros, Distributed
by the Register and Tribune Syndicatel
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
THE FERRY BOAT MEN.

There is something good that may be said about the
majority of people But the travelling public doesn't usually
say when the slightest delay plans up Something
about fellow when he gets in and starts his way
he grumbes and grows at the least delay inconvenience
and just about all the imanners in him the top
Consider the ferry boat men who, Like the mamen,
serve the public rain shine cold hot calm windy
His life isn't all roses not by He the for
long hours and he faithful He can't talk back but
to listen to the constant beiahng of people who may
has sometimes prevailed in the past due to the neglect
lack of foresight of the hgherups The ferry boat
not responsible They by ORDERS they do their job yet
they hear all the and the spite they the only
sight the traveller heap his on and they the
goats
The ferry boat men have tough life It isn't exactly
square deal Wouldn't it be tough if all day long you
rectd to you? Then let think about the plight of the
They work about IL IA hours day Some
days are bad days particularly out in the open in the rain
and cold of winter They must be the job regularly
whether they feel good bad They may be feeling some
OF the days when folks grippe They can't talk back
they viii be reported We like to add good word and
now do, for the ferry boat men.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
OCRACOKE
Continued from Page One)

Spencer, Murray Spencer, Albert
Styron, Jr., Benjamin O'Neal,
Charlie Ahmon, John Gaskill, C.
R. Mason, and Larry Williams,
home for the summer from his
teaching position in Wilmington,
has been drafted" for ideas and
help in organization plans.
July 4th week end is a time
when lots of Ocracokers living off
the Island make a special effort
to come back home. Also tourists
who have been here in the past like
to return for that week end and
Inquiries this year indicate that a
great many new tourists are plan
ming to make reservations on the
Island for the special July 4th
celebration.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
PAGEANT
Continued from Page One)

beth, is Mary Wood Long, who has
played the role for the past two
seasons, but was a veteran actor
in the dramas cast for several
years prior to the regal part she
now plays.
The aspiring beauties, one OF
whom will be chosen Miss Ports
mouth in a pageant of pulchritude
scheduled for June 20, will later
compete in the state contests, from
which a winner will be chosen to
compete in the national beauty
contest in Atlantic City.
PhotOg's Contest
Each year The Lost Colony has
its annual Press Photographers
Rehearsal. Open to press photo
graphers and those who are free
lances with press connections,
prizes are awarded for the best
published pictures taken of Lost
Colony actors or scenes during the
rehearsal. General Manager R. E.
Jordan has announced that the
prizes this year will be first $500;
second $50; third $25 and a
special prize of $25 for the best
published double exposure, mont
age, retouched or composite photo.
Special Performance July 4th
A special performance of The
Lost Colony will be given on Mon
day night, July A. This will be the
only Monday night performance
during the season which from the
first day of July will continue
through September 4, according to
General Manager Jordan.
eve are presenting the special
Monday night, July 4th program
in order that the thousands of peo-
pie who will still be enjoying their
independence Day vacation, may
have an opportunity to see the
show" said jordan.
Performances will be held at
8:15 o'clock each evening of the
week including Sunday, but ex-
Guiding Monday. There has been
no increase in the price OF admis-
sions and special prices are given
organized groups from churches,
Sunday schools and other organi-
cations. Advance tickets may be
obtained, after the show is under
way, at the box office near the
entrance of Fort Raleigh National
Historic Site, where Watcrside
lLost Colony Theatre is located.
By mail, advance tickets may be
obtained by whiting Lost Colony,
in Manteo.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
WALTER ANDERSON NAMED
WILDLIFE RESOURCES CHIEF

Walter F. Anderson has been
appointed chief of the N. C.. Wild
life Resources Commissions Wild
life protection division, according
to Executive Director Clyde P.
Patton. Anderson succeeds w. C.
Bumgarner who resigned last
April.
A veteran of nearly 20 years ex-
perience in law enforcement work,
Anderson headed up the State Blu
reau of Investigation from April
1916 to August 1851 when Cover
nor Scott appointed him Director
Of the Prison Department. He
served in that capacity until
August 1853.
Anderson is a graduate of the
F.B.I. Academy in Washington, D.
C., and before serving with State
agencies was in police work in
Charlotte and Winston Salem. In
the latter city he was Chief of
Police.
Since leaving the Prison Depart
ment, Anderson has been active in
Methodist Church work. A man of
deep religious conviction, Ander-
son has been a lay leader in the
Methodist Church for a number of
years, and is well known as a pub
lie speaker on the subject of reli-
gion.
A native of Davie county.
Anderson is graduate of Mocks-
vile High School and attended
Rutherford College at Connolly
Springs. He taught music for a
year before entering service with
the Wiinston-Salem police depart
ment. He served with the Winston
Salem police department from
1924 to 1912, and served with the
Charlotte police department from
1912 until his appointment as
S.BI. chief in 1915. Anderson is
and has three daughters.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
HONORS
Continued from Page One)

School, Norfolk, June 10, was
selected to appear in the 1954-55
edition of who's Who Among
Student Leaders in High Schools
of America" This honor comes in
recognition of the merit and ac-
complishment of the student who
was officially recommended by the
school.
While at Maury, Miss Twiford
was active in the Student Co.
operative Association, being on the
Student Council. She also served
as vice-president of Y-Teens and
chaplain of Tri-Hi-Y- Clubs. In her
senior year she was selected as
most talented girl in Hall of
Fame" She danced in the Maury
Minstrels, an annual production of
the school. On Class Night, June
B, she received a certificate of
merit for participation in extra
curricular activities. Miss Twiford
was active in her local church,
Client Methodist, serving as vice
president of the Senior Depart
ment and singing in the choir.
Pat, who is seventeen years old,
is now living with her parents at
Stumpy Point. She plans to enter
East Carolina College in the fall
and study home economics.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
LEXINGTON PARTY
MAKES BIG CATCH

A Lexington, N. C. party, in
GLIDING A. P. Carver fishing on
Friday with Captains Nelson
Stowe and Freeman Stowe landed
18 king mackerel, IL amberjack, SO
blue fish and several bonita. The
amberjack weighed up to 80
pounds each. They were fishing
on the Twins /. L. H. Stone and
party of Greensboro aboard the
Twins II, Capt. Elmer Balance,
brought in 10 amberjack and four
dolphin on Thursday. Capt. Clam
Stowe, skipper of the cruiser
Ursula, fishing party headed by
Miles Schorey, Durham, N. C,
caught 80 dolphin, one albacore,
two bonita and several blues while
fishing offshore waters here on
Thursday.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
WASHINGTON REPORT

The danger to the entire wheat
support plan hinges on the farm
ers' vote June Is. A two-thirds
vote of approval among wheat
farmers is required for the new
support prices. If less than two
thirds approve the plan, then
wheat support prices drop to 80
per cent of parity.
Many Democrats are accusing
Secretary Benson Of attempting to
destroy the support program by
setting wheat prices at such low
level-the lowest since 1916.
Farmers in the western wheat
states may abandon the support
plan in an effort to overcome
losses by increasing acreage.
STORIES. The CT stories of
World War II haven't died-not
by long shot. And, APPARENTLY, the
Army is about the same as always.
A soldier wrote his Senator, be-
moaning the fact that he was
spending 80 days in the brig. A
raw deal he got, he said.
According to his story, he and
two of his buddies swiped dozen
chickens from the mess hall to
take on a week end party. One of
his buddies was a corporal and the
other mess sergeant. They took
the chickens, he said, and had a
gay week end-with all the trim
mings.
Somehow, the Army got wind of
the party and court-martialed all
three. The soldier said he was de-
NOTED from corporal to private and
sentenced to 80 days in the stock
ade. His fellow corporal was given
the same treatment. The mess
sergeant? He, according to the
soldier, was given a transfer.
That, the soldier said, was a raw
deal, and he wanted his senator to
do something about it.
The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1955-06-24
BY BILL WHITLEY

INCOME. Social Security pay
ments to residents of North Caro-
lima are becoming bigger factor
in the States overall income. Fig
ures just released by the Depart
ment of Health, Education and
Welfare show that during. 1854
some $4,000 Tarheels received
over as million dollars a month
in social security payments.
When totaled, the yearly income
from social security payments is
rather high-about 81 million dol
lars-but the individual average
payments are low. Last year, they
averaged about 80 dollars per per-
son who are eligible to receive
social security money.
INCREASE. Some z million
people in the United States are
now receiving social security pay
ments. In the future, this number
will increase rapidly, since about
70 million people are covered by
the program. 1t is encouraging to
note that as of today, nine out Of
ten mothers and children in the
Nation are assured of monthly in
come from the program if the head
of the family dies.
WHEAT. Reports coming out of
the western wheat belts indicate
that farmers are on the verge of
throwing over the wheat price
support program. Last week, Sec
rotary of Agriculture Benson an
nounced that price supports on the
1856 wheat crop will be 76 per cent
of parity under his flexible price
support program. This year, wheat
farmers are getting 82.5 per cent
parity support. This years wheat
is supported at S$2.06 per bushel.
Next years support price will be
S1.81 per bushel under Benson's
plan.