Controlled by Funding Sources

 

 

In my previous post, I posed a critical question: Can researchers, organizations, and government foundations be influenced or controlled by external powers such as funding sources, political agendas, or institutional pressures?

 

This inquiry leads us to consider who is behind BabyTV, the producer of Charlie and the Alphabet, which I believe negatively impacts children's learning.

Consider this question with what Edward Thorndike and Charlie Munger said. LINK

 

Despite my attempts to communicate with BabyTV, their responses indicated that they see no issues with the program. This raises a vital question for educators: My question to all teachers/educators is, is the way to teach the sounds represented by letters the way it is pronounced in the video? LINK

 

It’s troubling that a program like this is aired in over 100 countries. Are global leaders complicit in this? Additionally, why are there so many videos on platforms like YouTube teaching incorrect phonemic sounds? Who funds these content creators?

 

As I mentioned previously, the dyslexia industry has become a profit-driven machine. The more individuals labelled as "dyslexic," the more funding organizations like Dyslexia Associations receive.

 

Moreover, why did leaders like Gobind Singh Deo and Malaysian TV Astro direct me to BabyTV? Are there no qualified educators in Malaysia who can assess the accuracy of the letter sounds presented in this program? LINK

 

Is the Reading Reform Foundation (RRF) in the UK misled? What financial support allows them to perpetuate these inaccuracies? Their mission claims to focus on effective, evidence-based teaching methods, yet there seems to be a significant disconnect.

Read what the website of RRF says:

We are dedicated to improving the teaching of fundamental reading skills in the United Kingdom and beyond. Our mission is to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or abilities, can learn to read through the most effective evidence-based teaching methods.

 

Reflecting on my complaints to BabyTV about the Charlie and the Alphabet program highlights the gap between evidence-based practices and what is being presented to children.

Here are my emails to and from BabyTV in 2018. LINK, LINK

 

As of October 26, 2018, the video had 3,699,390 views, with 4,200 thumbs down—likely from educators and parents who recognize the flawed teaching methodology. Today, November 18, 2024, that view count has soared to 83,000,000, but the negative feedback has been removed.

 

This situation warrants further examination of the influences at play and the responsibilities of educational content creators. We must advocate for accurate teaching methods to ensure our children receive a solid educational foundation.