What do we REALLY want to be happening inside Garvey District’s schoolrooms? Do we want quiet, studious classrooms where every child in every classroom at the same grade level is on the same page, studying the same skill at the same time by doing the same skill sheets and workbook pages?

A lot of misinformation has been exchanged here and I hope I can make more sense out of it for everyone. First: "Balanced Literacy" has been around since the early 90's. It was designed as a balance between the two warring camps in reading/language arts - the "Whole Language" group and the "Phonics/Back to the Basics" group.

I've been condemned over the past months for "switching sides", "going to the Darkside for political favors". Well, here's the truth:
Three years ago, I felt as I do now that WalMart was the WORST example of American commercialism and cut throat marketing, but I was a minority of one on the council. Therefore, I worked to mitigate the planned building and business as much as I could. Many of my oldest Friends in Rosemead (now senior citizens) pleaded with me to help get the walMart . . ."for them". I committrd ONLY to not publicly be against the project, stating every time that I was philosophically opposed to it. Well, that wasn't enough for the pro-WalMart zealots. First, they sent out a scurrilous letter- approved by Mr. Imperial - condemning my endorsement of Mr. Nunez , whom I have known for thirty years, and Mr. Tran, whom I have worked with for three years, and my "flip-flop" vote on a school district resolution against the WalMart project - this after I ABSTAINED on the vote!!!!