This is the result of years of NOT teaching children how to read.
English is a "phonetic" language; yet, the teachers refuse to teach children how to read using phonics. I was fortunate in that the Catholic grade school that I sent my children to, did use phonics to teach reading. Now, both of my girls were reading before they got there (hubby and I were voracious readers and passed that on to our children), but the 1st grade teacher (Mrs. Riggio) used a phonics based system and all of those children in that class went into the 2nd grade fully prepared for that level of instruction.
Teachers are not teachers anymore. They are Union members. They care about their pay checks and benefits, the children are only useful as cudgels when they go on strike for more money and benefits.
Sorry if I sound a bit pessimistic; but, I have been watching the educational system in this country collapse for a long time. I am at the point of supporting the complete collapse of the current system and the replacement with a school choice option for ALL, not just poor people, everyone gets to choose.
Teachers are not teachers anymore. They are Union members.
Perhaps tagline worthy. I’ll update the tagline page
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3992415/posts?q=1&;page=375#375