'Heated Debate'

By Nicholas S. Thacher

Some things you can just feel. You shake your head in wonder, the same old same old, wrapped in today's dazzling plumage.

In early April, The New York Times ran an article about "Babes in Cyberspace," with the subhead: "Digital Diaper Set Is Next Gleam in Software Industry's Eye." Uh oh, I thought, Silicon Valley and Madison Avenue are at it again, selling the latest technological snake oil. The article's premise: "Introducing children this young to computing is a subject of heated debate among educators and child-development experts."

Heated debate? We keep reading and hearing about heated educational debate. Irate California parents take on the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' thoughtful recommendations for national mathematical standards: "Problem-solving vs. rote memorization!" Reading scores are down across America: "Whole language vs. phonics!" This month it's...