According to the National Endowment for the Arts’s survey of reading habits, in 1982, 56.9 per cent of Americans had read a literary book in the previous year. This fell to 54% in 1992, and 46.7 percent in 2002.
When television was introduced in the Netherlands, reading time plummeted from 5 hours per week to 3.6. By 1995 people there spent only 9% of their spare time reading. In Australia, reading skills lag significantly behind those in Korea. The problem being even worse in the aboriginal communities. In the UK, a survey found that a third of adults questioned had not bought a new book in the past year. A whopping 34% said they did not read books!
This is, obviously, bad news for authors and publishers, but there are larger implications. A follow-up report released by the NEA in 2007, showed that there is a correlation between the decline of reading and unemployment, lower wages, and opportunities for advancement.
Even more alarming are indications that Americans are losing the ability to read or write at all. Reading scores fell an average of 6 points annually between 1992 and 2005, and the number of twelfth-graders (17 and 18 year-olds) who were proficient readers dropped from 40% to35%.
The ability to read critically, and discuss themes, character development, and settings, has also declined steeply. In 1992, 54% of twelfth graders said they discussed reading with their friends. By 2005, the number was down to 37%. (source: The New Yorker magazine) http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2007/12/24/071224crat…
In some cases, text messaging lingo has replaced standard English – in school papers, on LinkedIn, even in business emails.
But, clearly, reading is still important. In Colombia, one man, and two burros, brave bandits, and political unrest, to bring books to remote areas. He calls it Biblioburros. More here (http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/20/america/colombia.php?page=1)
In America, First Book “leverages the work of local heroes” in classrooms, local literacy programs, and libraries to give books to poor children in families that can’t afford to buy them.
What can you do?
Read more. If you have kids, read to them, and let them see you doing it too.
Take them to the library for story time, or to your local bookstore to buy books and pick out some of their own.
Get involved with reading programs and programs that distribute books. Volunteer to read to children. Join literacy programs. Join the parent/teacher organization at your school.
By Jodi Kaplan
http://www.firstbook.org
http://www.literacydirectory.org/
http://www.nifl.gov/
http://www.bookadventure.com/
http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=53668&URL_D…
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
These statistics are probably true, but because you have the freedom of choice, you don’t have to be on the negative end of these statistics.
Thanks to a great reading program from our local public elementary school (and a reading regimen set up by my wife) my kids love to read and probably don’t get the amount of sleep they need because they’re staying up late to finish that next chapter or book they checked out from the school library.
The other day I decided to take them to a Barnes & Noble and they went crazy in the kids section. It was like we had found the world’s biggest cave of treasure. I haven’t seen them even get that excited in a Toys R Us.
It’s critical to give children the right influences when they’re young and influence-able, then hopefully they’ll keep some of those habits when they get into their teenage years. But I haven’t got that far yet.
I couldn’t agree more with your comments Rex.
I have three boys, two in their teens who have loved and enjoyed books before they could hold one. Sounds like you are doing a great job with your kids. Don’t let games consoles get in the way as they get older.
Rex, don’t worry: if they’ve established the habit, it won’t go away.
My first batch of kids all learned to read young. When they were old enough to buy game consoles, they’d play. A lot. Watched lots of TV, movies mostly.
When it came time to turn it off, there were no grumbles: they simply grabbed whatever book they were reading.
My youngest is 4 1/2 and she’s already a voracious reader. I have no doubt that she’ll want to spend time in front of the TV or gaming with her older brother. But once you see the gifts of imagination a book gives, those other toys are so clearly inferior that there’s less danger of it being supplanted.
My wife laid down the law after our boy was born…NO TV. We read to him often and surround him with books. Of course, some TV is unavoidable. But I’ll tell you, the zoned-out look that kids get on their faces when they watch television is seriously scary.
This book really influenced our decision to limit screen time for our kids.
http://www.amazon.com/Endangered-Minds-Children-Think-About/dp/0684856204