Critical Brief Submitted by 12 Simon Fraser Faculty Members

Excerpt from the brief submitted to CLLRNet by 12 members of the Simon Fraser University Faculty of Education:

"Before proceeding with a national policy on literacy, it is crucial to engage in a conversation about what ‘scientifically based’ literacy research is, what ‘scientific evidence’ is, and what real sense a ‘best practices’ approach makes in a culturally and linguistically diverse, geographically immense, and historically complex country like Canada. We suggest, in place of ‘best practices’ a ‘repertoire’ of practices, responsive to diverse conditions, informed by granular accounts that take the measure of difference. Our reading of the CLLRNet site is that it conflates ‘scientifically based’ research with randomized controlled trials and large-scale designs, on the understanding that such trials will inform educators of what instructional approaches will work ‘best’, universally."

Read the full brief.