I disagree; the three Rs are essential for learning. It certainly isn't nonsnese.
Well, no, the three Rs in and of themselves are not nonsense, but, the people who generally scream about them are the same folks who do not want time "wasted" on physical education, art and music. They're the same folks that haven't a clue that more math and more science are being taught in the better school districts. I have no idea what is taught in rural Mississippi or in the urban schools.
And, there are a lot of people who have to accept that are some kids who will never learn to read and others who will always be abysmal at math.
No one supports reading more than I do and I put the blame for many reading problems squarely on the shoulders of parents. However, the last time I wrote that on this forum, several people huffily stated that they were never read to as children and they turned out fine. Well, maybe you did and maybe you didn't.
Let's fact it: far too many supporters of returning to basics and simply teaching the three Rs really do not want to pay for schools; are less than polished in both social and intellectual terms, and, either never had kids or have kids that have been out of school for 20 years or longer.
On the other hand, there are parents who are happy that their kids are not being taught; who see school only as a place to send their kids for a few hours a day because it is cheaper than day care; who think it is fine if their kids are in SPED because they were.
