Bursting the 2.0 Bubble

So, recently I read E.D. Hirsch's The Knowledge Deficit. Hirsch (Core Knowledge Reading Program) is know as being a heavy proponent of phonics, but this book goes further in advocating a knowledge heavy curriculum (You can always look it up...or can you)?. Not only that he suggests the curriculum (Rocket Science ) should be National--every state should have a core that is the same everywhere. All kids learn about The Mayflower in the 3rd grade; all kids learn about continental drift in the 5th. Why? Because kids are so mobile--urban district have turnovers of more than 50%--the most disadvantaged kids need to know that the new classroom won't be completely lost (see Impact of Family Relocation).

Here in the world of Classroom 2.0 we often go in the opposite direction, feeling that kids should be freed from the shackles of teacher-directed curriculum and released to follow their bliss. The question is: will they be able to read?