Silent Students

Re “Teaching the Silent Student,” June 11, about the children entering our schools who have no language ability:

This was an alarming article. I have always believed TV played a far greater role in eroding children’s ability and desire to read, as well as diminishing their ability to focus on simple school mental tasks, and that TV is a far greater culprit in children’s poor school performance than other factors. As I was reading this article I kept thinking, but these kids must watch TV and at least TV would facilitate some language ability. Horror struck when it was mentioned these children have been observed watching TV but with the sound turned off. Clearly, we are dealing with a new and strange phenomenon, one that needs extensive study until we understand exactly what has happened to these kids. After all, the only thing separating us from the rest of the animal kingdom is our cerebral cortex and its language facility.

Let’s find out what has caused it and how we can prevent it.

JJ HORSMAN