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I think Phoneyix has the appeal it does because it seems to promise stability and order. People want to believe that learning a language is lot like decoding because then everything could be so predictable. Also, of course, if a child didn't learn how to read using the Phoneyix approach--then whose fault is it? Well the child's, of course. Or perhaps the teachers. But never, of course, the Phoneyix approach. Because it's just decoding isn't it. There's a very Calvanistic flavour to this call for a return to Phoneyix that makes me very nervous. As to why parents want it. I think they are afraid, afraid that their children will miss out on something essential. Fear drives a lot of decisions these days. The most essential problem with the pure Phoneyix approach (this is for Jamie) is that English isn't a phonetic language. Some languages are (Spanish, for example). After all I can write: I read one book today, but I read another book yesterday. Try explaining that "read" has two radically different sounds. The language is simply filled with exceptions. A good phonics approach uses the sound/ sight correspondences (especially the consonants) as a set of clues, but doesn't rely on them. Also to repeat my mother's insight. "It's really sad when a child can "read" but doesn't understand what their reading or worse enjoy what they are reading." Catherine F. Schryer Dept. of English University of Waterloo Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 (519) 885-1211 (ext 3318)