Currently the State of Utah is voting and debating whether or not they should pass a law which would require students who do not read at grade level to be held back. As I have thought about the issue I cannot confidently decide which side I agree with. In terms of the student’s education it is unquestionable that a child needs to be able to read at grade level and that the skill is essential for their future success.
However, in terms of the student’s social development it is debatable that this law is best for a child. Social skills are also crucial for an individual’s future success. I remember being in elementary and hearing rumors about what kids in our class were being held back and those kid’s were often mocked and had a hard time socially. Another reason to question the law aside from social disadvantages is that it isn’t always a students fault for not obtaining reading skills at grade level. One of Utah’s Senators, Howard Stephenson, pinpointed this issue by saying: “I know in most cases we have dedicated teachers and qualified teachers, but in some cases we have a first-grade teacher who's not qualified to teach reading, and those kids suffer, and I think there ought to be consequences for that as well." It is not fair for a student to be punished for not receiving instruction that allows them to succeed. If proper instruction was taught that allowed children a high likelihood of success and then they still struggled to read at grade level then perhaps it would be a logical law. Share your opinions!!
Read about Reading Horizons as a Response to Intervention (RTI) for struggling readers and watch this video: