"The School Board adopted a resolution that each school will make two phonics books and two whole language books available to the teachers in each school. Unfortunately, the whole language majority of the School Board did not take any additional action. Therefore, although schools have phonics books to choose from, without any additional instruction or direction, the teachers are free to choose the books they want to use. Naturally, without teacher education, the teachers continue to use what they are comfortable with, i.e., whole language textbooks."

A recent article in the Washington Post reports provides an interesting perspective on this controversy over the use of "phonics-based" elementary reading books.

READING WARS REKINDLED: SPARKS FLY IN FAIRFAX COUNTY

Fairfax County, Virginia, school board members recently adopted four new series of elementary reading books, including two that heavily rely on phonics. Schools were permitted to choose any two of the four series, with many board members "assuming" schools would choose at least one of the phonics-based books (Benning, WASHINGTON POST, 7/17). That was not the case.

Twenty-six of the county's 132 elementary schools, including several deemed "low-performing," opted not to acquire the phonics-based books. "When we approved these textbooks, I heard it said that the reading wars were over," bemoaned board member Christian Braunlich. "Well, these schools have just ended the cease-fire. They ignored the clear direction the board was going in, they ignored the direction the superintendent was giving and, most importantly, they ignored the research."

Board Chairman Robert Frye said while he respected "what the schools have done in making their choices," the board has the "overriding responsibility to ensure that educational opportunities are consistent among schools." He and other board members especially are concerned that several Project Excel schools rejected the phonic-based books, writes the paper. The POST notes that these schools have particularly high numbers of low-achieving students. Each Project Excel school has clearly defined academic goals that if not met will result in replacing staff.

"I think it's clear in the Project Excel schools especially that phonics and phonemic awareness are critical to helping their students achieve," said board Vice Chairman Mark Emery. "I'm disappointed."

Frye plans to introduce a measure that would require every school to have at least one phonic-based series for each grade from kindergarten through second grade.

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