[UCANSEE2]

SO... this issue is not whether ‘phonics’ can be a valuable asset in teaching children to read and write, but that teachers rely on phonics only as the easy way out.

[Lizavetta]

The "issue", as I see it, is that phonics has been ditched for other fad methods, which have resulted in failure. How can someone get to junior high and high school with moron level reading skills? I refuse to believe these students are intellectually incapable. They have been taught by inferior methods.

Learning to read is not hard. When phonics is taught to 6 and 7 year olds they pick it up. Some get it quicker than others - like any other concept. But it works.