I was at the dentist yesterday, and she mentioned that her teenagers just don't like to read; and she fears that they will never understand how wonderful it truly is to just sit down and escape into the world of a book.
Deep breath...
I witnessed similar sentiments in the public schools, and even as a religion teacher, and it just makes me feel really sad that these children (and many adults) are missing out on something so incredible. Why do so many educated parents (and this one does love to read) fail to ignite a love of reading in their children?
Lack of time is a major factor these days. But is it enough to model a love of reading, without helping your child to seek out great books? Now all these questions are in my head - like:
- Did she read with her children when they were young?
- Do they have books around their house?
- Do they take trips to the library and book store?
- Did not one teacher or school librarian try to seek out appropriate reading materials?
- Does her spouse like to read?
- What are their hobbies?
We were so busy talking about the high school reading list (which has adult books on it, by the way - a topic for another day) that I didn't get to ask her questions like these. I'll be sure to the next time I see her.
There seem to be so many children out there who think they don't like to read. Who's responsible? The teachers? The parents? The school librarians? Advanced technology? Too much homework/extracurricular activities? Too much time on Facebook?
Before I share my thoughts, I'd really love to hear yours!
In the meantime, you might be interested in reading a couple of previous posts:
