Yes, Virginia, there is a god. She is currently appearing as Doug Carnine
How should we celebrate a conceptual leader and a great researcher? Greek gods, Elvis, Jesus, and Doug.
As of 7 October Doug Carnine will celebrate his birthday. It is the start of his next trip around the sun. His first trip began in 1947. That’s significant (few people live that long), not only because it’s a reason to celebrate Doug’s accomplishments but, also, it’s dang close to Corey’s and Pat’s b-days!
In my view, Doug’s been one of the most important contributors to instruction— education and, especially special education instruction—in the history of education. Doug did dozens, scores of studies about how instructional practices make differences in students’ outcomes.
Let me start with some notes about Greek gods. Those Greek gods would understand his substantial contributions.
Part I
Among others, the Greeks told tales about Achilles, Aeneas, Cadmus, Heracles, and Theseus. Some were the children of liaisons of gods and humans. Their achievements are wondrous and grand. These ancient leaders consulted the oracle at Delphi; traveled far and wide, vanquished fantastic, fearsome animals and mythical serpents (and, in one case, planted the sepent’s teeth), diverted a river in the service of cleaning a stable, survived both drought and flood, fought huge wars, founded cities and even civilizations, and one of them even married Helen, a woman so beautiful her face could launch 1000 ships.
Sadly, they all had their faults, shortcomings, and comeuppances. Just to sample a few: When sailing home, as Theseus approached the shores of his native land he forgot to change his sail from black to white, causing his father to think that Theseus was dead; his distraught father, Aegeus, threw himself into the sea, giving it the name we now know, the Aegean. Cadmus, who used the serpent’s teeth to grow soldiers for his army, lived long enough that in his old age he and his wife were turned into serpents. And, Achilles, as we know, had his heel.
Part II
By contrast, we have Doug. Maybe he was born of the gods. If genetics is a good indication, at least we can reason backwards that he came from damn good stock. There is the Wayne Carnine Award, for example. What’s that about but, family?
What is more, Doug and Linda obviously married well. And, in fact, in keeping with the Greek gods’ tradition, Linda and Doug have provided wonderful goddesses for the world. It seems they sport no vulnerable heels. The team will keep on promoting consideration of others, of the humanity of people who are terribly down-trodden (e.g., prisoners).
Part III
In fact, Doug was not a Greek god. He was just a guy among us who’s done his jobs quietly but extraordinarily well. The oracle he consulted was reason and science. Rather than fighting, he went hither and yon to talk with representatives of many different views, soliciting their collaboration. He sacrificed his own academic career to pursue larger goals. He helped many other people (including me) to promote evidence-based education, way before it was popular. He champions kindness.
Sadly, like some of the Greek heroes, he got lanced. No good deed goes unpunished. Education Week, for example, published misinformation about Doug; Alexandra Russo wrote that Doug was a student of Ed Kame’euni. Uhmm, as a matter of fact, it was the other way around. Ask Doug and Ed.
Part IV
Doug worked closely—quite closely—with Zig Engelmann. That collaboration resulted in one of what I consider to be the most important books about planning educational practices in the history of education: Theory of Instruction. If you haven’t read it, please do. It shows how to design teaching routines for many, many different aspects of declarative and procedural knowledge.
Part V
Well, if I can’t compare Doug to the Greek gods, let’s see how he stacks up against Elvis and Jesus!
Part VI
Doug has been an incredibly productive educator. He’s the lead author on the book about reading instruction that I recommend more than any other (Carnine et. al, 20whatever). But there is way—way—more to Doug.
He has worked closely with increrated people recently. This is part of his godhood. If your care about people, you ought to care about those who are down-trodden. Doug does. We should follow his lead.
Doug is showing us the path to enlightment…it goes through caring about peopke,