‘I was a teacher for 17 years, but I couldn’t read or write’ | Hacker News Reader

‘I was a teacher for 17 years, but I couldn’t read or write’

bbc.co.uk

40 pointsmathieuh11 comments

For me the next question is: how do we encourage everyone to admit the things that they have trouble with and then to rectify the situation?

For instance, a lot of us can read but don't really comprehend. A lot of us don't have the analytical skills necessary to distinguish truth from flim-flam in politics.

It takes guts to do what Corcoran did first, but it takes work to do what comes next. Corcoran did both. It's a pity that such people are not media darlings. The world would be a much better place if the Corcorans of the world were idolized and followed instead of the empty headed media stars that seem so popular now.

Wow, what a story. It's great that he told it, too. I've seen in thrown around that 1 in 7 American adults are functionally illiterate, and I can't imagine what kind of life that must be.

Imagine trying to navigate the systems we've set up without being able to read. No advice on how to write resumes, what's a healthy diet, how the stock market works, how to deal with a hunched back, unless you happen to find somebody preaching it out loud.

He doesn't say if there was an underlying condition, like dyslexia.

https://www.johncorcoranfoundation.org/john-corcoran

> Standard teaching methods didn’t work for him because – like millions of other children – he had auditory-discrimination problems that interfered with his ability to process language.

Yup, if you can copy-type at 65 words/min, dyslexia is less likely as the underlying cause.

It takes big onions to admit something like that. I admire him.

It's a bold story but I can't help but feel angry despair at all the education he stole from so many children over so many years. Despicable cowardice.

The system itself prevents children from learning. John Gatto says that 'some children learn to read when they're 2, some when they're 8, and by the time they're 12 you can't tell the difference' (paraphrased from memory).

I met a fellow who was traumatized by being forced to try to learn to read before he was ready (1st grade). He eventually learned how to read, in spite of the System's attempt to prevent it.

The most important factor in teaching kids to read is waiting for them to be ready.

I am not sure he stole anything. What he did do was teach them differently.

The educators in my life who employed a lot of discussion are some of the highest value ones.

It's not like the subjects he taught require more.

Someone should get feedback from his students. Would be very interesting to get their take on their experiences.

Would he be able to read if it wasn't English but a proper written language like where you write exactly what you hear, sound to letter?

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