Today’s episode argues that the current education system primarily supports an analytic pathway to literacy, where language is broken down into segments, effectively marginalising gestalt learners who process language as whole phrases and rhythms. This creates a false universal of literacy, as the system's design excludes those who don't conform to the dominant method. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, highlights a stark divide in California, where private care offers nuanced support for both learning styles, whilst under-resourced public schools limit Speech-Language Therapists (SLTs) to narrow, compliance-driven tasks. Dr. Hoerricks proposes reframing this issue through the Power Threat Meaning Framework and Critical Theory to expose how power structures dictate which learning styles are valued and monetised, advocating for SLTs to reclaim their broader expertise and use the Individualised Education Program (IEP) as a tool for systemic change and collaboration that recognises all literacy pathways. Ultimately, she calls for a revolutionary hope to move beyond mere accommodation towards true solidarity and a genuinely shared educational future.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/building-classrooms-where-both-gestalt
Let me know what you think.
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