Usually there is not a universal agreement on the realistic goals for a particular problem and outside factors or problems are often ignored.

Poverty , non native speaking children ,and even the distance and hours of operation of local libraries can all affect how well a child does in school. Parent involvement or non- involvement and behaviors like truancy are difficult to correct with rules but no less important.

If all children arrived at school well dressed and fed with instructions from the parents to be sure to pay attention and returned home to their book filled homes with their own quiet study spot where they were expected to finish their homework before going out to play, then those children with learning disabilities and dyslexia would be easy to identify .Most people would agree that those children are entitled to added resources because of their problems if for no other reasons that it would increase their chances to be more productive citizens.

I sometimes think a community type center for preschool children staffed with volunteers with some training from the community where reading stories,structured play, singing songs and learning some preschool skills such as the alphabet and numbers along with the idea that learning can be fun would be a help. It would also help with the identification of learning disabilities and dyslexia at an earlier age and set the stage for interventions.

Maybe the money could come from parks and recreation budgets rather than educational funds.

Not being from New Zealand I am sure I don’t have the answers. Reading the debates about dyslexia there I do think it might be of benefit to step back and and consider that each side may have some good points even if there is disagreement about implementation .

My little niche is visual dyslexia which affects about 10% of dyslexics. Dyslexia is a complex condition and I often hear people say that because most dyslexics don’t have visual problems that dyslexia and vision aren’t related. That is throwing the baby out with the bath water.

I don’t see either side of the debate on dyslexia as being all right or wrong. If both sides could consider that the other side has some valid points ( perhaps with modifications from the other side) perhaps a better plan could be approached from the middle even if this requires the elimination of other approaches.

Good Luck