Illustration by Manuel Monroy (What Are You Doing?)
On Monday, December 12, 2011, People for Education released a report entitled “Reading for Joy.” The premise of the report was that while “reading scores have increased in elementary school, children’s” love of reading has declined. In fact, “[t]he percentage of students in grade 3 who report they “like to read” has dropped from 75% in 1998/99 to 50% in 2010/11 and the number of students in grade 6 who “like to read” fell from 65% to 50% during the same period.” These startling statistics led Kristin Rushowy of the Toronto Star to ask a bold question: Should province set targets to boost kids’ love of reading?
I, for one, am all for it. However, it’s not going to be easy. The Ontario government will need to overcome a couple of major obstacles before any such initiative gets underway. First, is the dramatic decline of teacher-librarians in Ontario elementary schools. The wealth of knowledge that they possess when it comes to books is unparalleled. Ontario will need to get these invaluable individuals back into our schools. Second, is the near extinction of public libraries. This whole discussion is pointless if children don’t have access to books. With that being said, I, like Rushowy, am unwilling to place all the burden on the province.
Rushowy is correct in saying that teachers are going to have carry a share of this burden. But, for them, its not simply going to be about making time in their already “jam-packed curriculum” but creating an atmosphere that promotes reading. Similar to ”one teacher who created a coffee-shop type atmosphere in her classroom, a “comfy space” with big pillows and bean bag chairs, to help foster discussion and an interest in reading.” The truth is, for this to succeed reading cannot feel like an assignment.
The last share of this initiative rests with parents. They will need to once again foster the reading experience. Along the lines of when their children first started learning to read. That same excitement and involvement is sure to make a world of difference.
If the province, teachers and parents can come together as needed, they will revitalize an entire generation. That alone, dear readers, is worth it.
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