by the Jornal-Opinion
The woman winning the reading wars
A teacher-training program Luisa Moats wrote decades ago has become “a buzzy property,” reports Time, which visits the “allegedly retired” educator at her remote lakehouse in Fairlee.
The buzz comes after declining literacy rates among American children. Moats’ approach was not always the prevailing view, but the pendulum has swung.
“The course is famously long and rigorous. Teachers must delve into language theory and cognitive science before any advice on instruction is given.”
The stakes are high.
“But the ability to recognize and manipulate written words will still be a critical skill, say most educators, because it is inextricably linked to thinking. Decades of research in psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and education suggest that becoming literate changes how people reason, solve problems, organize knowledge, and deliberate on their own thinking.”
The piece concludes with Moats noting, “The mental work that is reading is the essence of learning.”
Silent film series gets underway
“Our Hospitality” from 1923 is one of Buster Keaton’s landmark features.
It will be shown on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. at Fairlee Town Hall Auditorium. This screening, the first in a series of silent films at Fairlee Town Hall, will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.
Admission is free, with donations accepted to help defray costs. The screening is organized by Fairlee Community Arts and is intended to bring people together for shared experiences that can’t be duplicated on a home entertainment center.
Upcoming screenings include “The Cat and the Canary” on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and “Girl Shy” on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
