October/November 2006 • Reading Today 21

Shanahan responds Columns spark

I
appreciate Jim Hoffman’s passionate up one’s own instructional programs and professional development, good home-
and articulate response to my col- materials, any more than a good surgeon school relations, etc. Improving our most listserv discussion
umn. As I pointed out, it is unclear is the one who manufactures his or her challenged schools is not the one-dimen- The June/July and August/Septem-
what a “scripted program” is as there is own scalpels. In fact, I think having teach- sional and romantic task that Jim de- ber President’s Messages by IRA Pres-
no commonly accepted definition ers do this is usually wasteful of scribes, nor is it the simplistic one that ident Timothy Shanahan have gener-
of the term, and, unfortu- teacher energy and expert- he seems to think I described. ated lively and sometimes heated
nately, his letter does ise, and it does not In regard to the group letter, I used discussions within the IRA member-
nothing to clarify lead to appreciably the term “need permission,” and this
this. I still think it
I don’t believe that the more learning for complaint makes me wish I hadn’t. The
ship and beyond. The International
Reading Association serves as an
is unreasonable only way to be a good teacher children. term was not intended in the authori- open forum for ideas. As IRA Execu-
to use a term so If it is okay for tarian way that it was interpreted by tive Director Alan E. Farstrup points
negatively with- is to make up one’s own teachers to use this long list of readers. That they read out in his Executive Director’s column
out bothering to instructional programs programs (and, it that way makes me sorry I used the (see page 19), “IRA welcomes lively
define it. unlike Jim, I think term. (Heck, with that interpretation, discussion and even disagreement.”
One of my con- and materials. it is), we remain I would have signed this complaint Shanahan’s column on scripted
cerns is, as I pointed with the problem of myself.) instruction inspired many com-
out, that teachers are being how such materials can The point of the sentence and para- ments on the RTEACHER listserv, an
labeled as poor if they use these un- best be used. In my column, I sug- graph where I used that phrase was that online forum that enables listserv
specified programs. That means, by im- gested that the best way may be for those teachers should never be expected to ad- members to converse with col-
plication, that since more than 80% of teachers who are using programs to fol- here so closely to a program that they leagues on a wide range of issues
teachers use some form of commercial low them, but to deviate from them as can’t respond to students’ needs or make relating to the teaching of reading.
instructional programs, then most of our appropriate on the basis of student as- changes when there are design flaws. I The conversation became even more
teachers are poor. Knowing Jim, I don’t sessment data and the collective judg- think if I would have phrased it “must interesting when Shanahan himself
believe he means that (nor do many oth- ments of teams of teachers. Jim’s alter- have the freedom,” the clarity would joined the discussion. As one partici-
ers who throw the term scripted around native seems to be to simply denounce have been better. Sorry about that. pant put it, “How great is this? Here
so blithely), but there it is. The implica- programs and to repeat the canard that As for Ms. Harper, I, too, am unaware we are having an interactive discus-
tion is that teachers who use programs teachers who use them aren’t good of any direct research on the effective- sion on literacy, and Tim jumps into
are poor teachers, and I respectfully teachers. ness of implementing scripted reading the dialogue! That’s what makes this
disagree with that characterization, Anyone who has actually taken major programs in secondary school. ❖ listserv so special.”
whether it is intended or not. responsibility for the education of the For further information about
I remain a big supporter of excellent children that Jim so eloquently discusses Timothy Shanahan the RTEACHER listserv, visit the fol-
teachers and high-quality professional recognizes the need for good teachers, IRA President lowing webpage: www.reading.org/
development, but I don’t believe that the good principals, good programs, good University of Illinois at Chicago resources/community/discussions_
only way to be a good teacher is to make assessments, good interventions, good Chicago, Illinois, USA rt_instruct.html.

Language and Literacy Education

(TENURE TRACK)
The Pennsylvania State University, the Altoona College, invites applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in Elementa r y Education. Teaching responsibilities include
undergraduate courses in children’s literature, reading, and language a r ts, required for elementa r y school cer tification. The successful candidate will have a record of effective
teaching and /or research in elementa r y school settings, experience with diverse populations, strength in undergraduate teaching, a broad understanding of cur r iculum theor y
(especially related to language a r ts, literacy, and literature), and a strong resea rch interest in educational practice and /or theor y. A background in reading program design,
public school refor m, and the integration of literacy with technology sk ills is highly desirable. The language a r ts and literacy courses a re taught concur rently with methods
courses in a r t and music. These courses may involve a practicum for students to apply their developing theor y and k nowledge of literacy development.
Located in the beautiful Allegheny Mountains of central Pennsylvania, Penn State Altoona is a la rgely residential campus of 40 0 0 students offering seventeen baccalaureate
degree programs and the first two yea rs of 180 Penn State baccalaureate degrees. Degree offer ings at Penn State Altoona will continue to expand. Only 40 m iles from the
University Pa rk campus, Altoona College offers the advantages of small college teaching with the readily available resources of a major resea rch university.
The position requires a doctorate in Cur r iculum and Instr uction (Literacy Education) or related field, and is a tenure-track appointment at the level of assistant professor or
a rank commensurate with qualifications beginning in Spr ing or Fall 20 07. Applicants should present a record of evidence and potential effectiveness in teaching, resea rch,
and ser vice. Candidates with a comm itment to undergraduate education, interest in undergraduate resea rch, and /or exper ience in program development will be given strong
consideration. Penn State Altoona offers a competitive sala r y and an attractive benefits package.
Applicants should send a letter of application establishing their qualifications; a cur rent vita; a descr iption of teaching philosophy and evidence of teaching effectiveness;
a statement of resea rch interests; transcripts (official transcr ipts required at the time of an interview); and a minimum of th ree letters of reference. Applicants a re strongly
encouraged to subm it their applications and accompanying materials electronically to edhdss@psu.edu in Word or PDF for mats. Review of applications will begin the week
of October 2, 20 06, and continue until the position is filled. Non-electronic inquir ies, applications, and additional mater ials should be sent to:
Chair, Sea rch Comm ittee for LLED
Penn State Altoona
Box B-22848
3000 Ivyside Pa rk
Altoona, PA 16601-3760
For additional infor mation about Penn State Altoona, please visit our web page at http://www.altoona.psu.edu.

Pen n State is com m itted to affir mative action, equal oppor t unity a nd the diversity of its work force.