Why So Many American Kids Can’t Read

America's literacy problem is a policy choice. As schools shifted away from phonics toward guessing-based instruction, a generation of kids paid the price. But a quiet reversal is underway in an unexpected place. Mississippi rebuilt reading instruction from the ground up and saw real gains. If it worked there, why are other states so resistant to copying it? The Argument is a podcast dedicated to honest, unflinching debate about the biggest questions facing democracy, culture, and our future. As the host, Jerusalem brings together voices across the political spectrum to argue, challenge, and persuade. Each episode is a space where disagreements are confronted directly, with clarity and conviction, rather than hidden or shouted down. Subscribe to our channel: @theargumentmag Subscribe to The Argument for ad-free episodes on Substack: https://www.theargumentmag.com/subscribe Articles, studies, and posts referenced in the episode can be found on our website at https://www.theargumentmag.com/s/the-...