ABSTRACT

Officials of the NICHD defend the institute's research and recommendations on reading by glorifying its alleged scientific character. Referring to its National Reading Panel (NRP) Report (2000), NICHD Director Duane Alexander stated that “for the first time, we now have research-based guidance from sound scientific research on how best to teach children to read” (Bock, 2000, par. 3). And, as already noted, Reid Lyon repeatedly testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce that NICHD reading recommendations are based on “the most trustworthy scientific evidence available” (cf., e.g., March 8, 2001, par. 14).