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This morning I was shocked to read that the rate of functional illiteracy in America is 21%. Of the six countries that participated in the study, only Italy has a worse rate. What's more, the study found that the rate is 36% in our country's capital -- what does that say about our country, our educational system and the children we are allowing to fall through the cracks?
Reading was fundamental at my house, it was never a chore nor a punishment. Instead, my mom delightfully recited her favorite poetry to us and allowed us to lay up and read as much as we wished. While I recently read that reading books has increased amongst teenagers, I know from my own experience that the publishing world is quickly losing ground with older boys and teens who are lacking the sort of books that are needed to keep them grounded in reading. Not all boys are into sci-fi or Eragon or Harry Potter.
In addition, with public libraries shutting down their doors due to budget cuts and buckling educational system, it's no wonder that so many Americans can't read this post. So what do we do?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-01-2007 @ 9:32PM
JackieMatos said...
I remember growing up and my Mom would tease me. Reading Was Fundamental (RIF). Children aren't being taught to read the way I was and to sound the words out. Instead they are being taught to memorize words and to prepare for their state exams. Unfortunately if you go to a library after school lets out, children aren't reading. They are chatting away on MySpace. Some lie about their age and continue to lose what little they have left of their youth. The computer age has backfired and is more detramental to their childhood then we ever imagined!
4-20-2007 @ 4:27PM
Madgirl said...
It's sad - my mom would bring me to the library every weekend in lieu of being able to take me to amusement parks or having money for trips. It opened a whole new world for me.
In this age of instant gratification, the leisure and time that books represent are no longer valued. The funny part is that books also hold the knowledge many people need to free and protect and develop themselves...only time will tell what will happen to the next non reading generation coming up...