One of the Three 'Rs' Could Disappear from Howard County Middle Schools

Reading teachers in Howard County middle schools are being told they won't be teaching formal reading classes next year—a proposal that has sparked controversy among teacher advocates who are worried that basic education building blocks could be abandoned.

The proposal, crafted by a county school system committee, recommends the elimination of reading classes. Reading teachers would then be reassigned in different capacities in other classes, which would absorb reading responsibilities, said Howard County school board member Brian Meshkin.

The Howard County Education Association, a professional association who membership consists of staff at Howard County's public schools, is among those concerned. On Nov. 8, it unanimously passed a resolution stating its opposition to the proposal.

"We're taking away reading as the kids are reading Shakespeare and not Dr. Seuss," said Paul Lemle, president of the Howard County Education Association. "We should have reading instruction at high schools, in addition to not eliminating it at the middle schools."

Howard County school spokeswoman Patti Caplan said Thursday she could not elaborate on the proposal and said she would look into it further.

Middle school reading teachers are being given five options for employment next year, according to an e-mail obtained by Patch that was sent to Patuxent Valley Middle reading teachers.

Among the options listed in the email are the opportunity to "re-purpose" to another content area; become a reading interventionist (specialists that work with students who need assistance to get to grade-level performance); or taking a voluntary transfer, "most likely to elementary level."

Teachers were told to "think carefully" about each option and "be prepared to discuss" with a supervisor where they see themselves next year, according to the e-mail.

Lemle said reading teachers were told of the change on Nov. 3.

This week, those teachers will be brought into face-to-face meetings with staff members from the curriculum office and human resources to talk about their options for future employment, according to Lemle.

"I should point out that this is only a proposal," said Lemle on Thursday. "But there is no question the school system is acting on that proposal."

Meshkin said he was concerned about changes to the middle school reading program being implemented before any consideration of the proposal by the school board.

"They're coming to us after the fact," he said Thursday. "That's something I find troubling and I think that's why we need a stronger board."

The proposal is to be presented to the school board in December, Meshkin said.

Under the middle school proposal, reading will be known as "disciplinary literacy." As such, other teachers will have the responsibility of teaching reading strategies in addition to their content material.

"But 50 years of education research says that reading needs to be taught explicitly," Lemle said.

Both Meshkin and Lemle expressed concern about reading classes being eliminated at a level in which students are already struggling.

While 90 precent of Howard County students are reading at grade level, according to standardized tests, teachers also know that comprehension drops as the reading material gets more difficult, as it does at the middle and high school levels, Lemle said.

The ability to read, write, spell and use appropriate grammar is becoming a lost art, Meshkin said.

"Are we forsaking some of the basic education foundation building blocks if we do this?" he said. "Middle schools are already broken—I have asked many times about changing the middle school model."

Other middle school changes being proposed include scheduling additional physical education time—by cutting into teacher planning time, according to Lemle—and introducing world languages on a broader scale. The proposal also recommends a uniform bell schedule for all Howard County middle schools.

Howard County Public School System officials are scheduled to present the proposal to the school board on Dec. 8.

A public hearing will be held Jan. 12, and the board is scheduled to take action on the proposal at its Jan. 26 meeting.