In 1970 I taught first grade at Hubbard Woods Elementary School in Winnetka, Illinois. At that time we taught a type of reading called ITA, Initial Teaching Alphabet. With a 1-to-1 sound/symbol relationship, a child can write any word that they can sound out. Granted, the words may look like gibberish; however, they are the actual phonetic equivalents of each spoken word. Many students who learned to read via ITA had atrocious spelling when they converted to the normal English language; but, what amazing

creativity flowed from children unrestricted by our cumbersome grammar and spelling. Who knows—maybe Spellcheck was invented by someone who learned to read using the Initial Teaching Alphabet!
38 years ago I asked my students to write out something they recited daily, the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Below is one I’ve saved all these years, and, since our Presidential campaign is in full swing, I offer it to you today (in recognizable spelling):
“I pledge a legions to the flag of the United snakes of America, and to the Republicans for which it stands, one nation under God, invisible, with Liv or Lee and just us for all.”
I hope the writer of the above realizes that today we have more than Republicans (the school was located in an upper class neighborhood. More important, I hope we all realize that we are NOT Republicans, Democrats, Green Party, Libertarians, Progressives, Black, White, Brown, Green, Purple, male, female, undecided, Catholic, Christian, Evangelical, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, agnostic, or atheist—we are Americans and we MUST work together to renew our faith in our country, its leadership, and to refocus our amazing potential for good.
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisble, with liberty and justice for all.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance