The Reading Wars, who wins? All phonics vs. No phonics. While adherent advocates fight it out in schools and legislatures around the country, what do kids learn? Rene Mendel Lebsock, a reading specialist on the faculty at Fresno Pacific University, says its time to blur the battle lines and teach meaning as well as making sounds. Learn about her peace plan this week in Scholars Speak.

Here's a dumb question: What is the purpose of public schools? To teach, obviously. But to teach what? American public schools were created to teach the knowledge and values immigrants and their children were thought to need to be part of society. Long before character curriculum, education was more than readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic. Is this enough? Scott Key, education faculty at Fresno Pacific University, shares his thoughts in this week's Scholars Speak.