Reading continues to slowly die out because the younger generations refuse to pick up books.
“Reading is an invitation to meet people and cultures the reader may never have a chance to meet in person. In that regard, reading is often compared to a ‘magic carpet’ that allows the reader to zoom into another world. It can allow us to understand others and have more empathy toward them, but at the same time show us that we are not that different from people who live in different nations, continents, situations from ours,” Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction Linda Pavonetti said.
Whether reading a book or an online story, reading provides many benefits such as improving comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking and memory. These are skills used throughout an entire lifetime so it is important to keep sharpening them.
“Evidence suggests that being immersed in a book-oriented environment is beneficial to educational achievement. One study shows how growing up with a library at home boosts adult literacy, numeracy and technological problem solving,” according to weforum.org.
Literature comes in many different variations which allows readers to have a wide variety to pick from when looking for a story. Many people who dislike reading in general have not had the chance to find a type of book that allows them to enjoy the activity. Everyone has different tastes and preferred styles, so it may take multiple tries to find the right type of book.
“I think it is important to know that if you don’t like what you are reading, or if you don’t understand it, there is no shame in closing the book and saying ‘I don’t like that book.’ Not all books are appropriate for all readers,” Pavonetti said.
In school kids are forced to read certain books as requirements for specific classes. This causes many students to read novels they have no interest in. If the teacher gave students the choice to pick their own book to read, students would care more about the book and find the time to read and comprehend it.
“I think the books they choose are very appropriate but have one kind of viewpoint. They don’t offer multiple views to look through so I think that it forces people to only look through one perspective,” senior Soren Wierbicki said.
Many of the books read in school are outdated. Schools should implement new reading material every few years to keep the books relevant for students to understand and enjoy, according to Pavonetti. Reading should be something students look forward to doing, rather than dreading every second of it.
“It is not a good motivator [to get kids to read] if we force students to read from a ‘leveled’ list and then give them a test about what they read. The best thing a teacher can do is to give students a choice among several books rather than dictate one book,” Pavonetti said.
The new generation of students are pushed away from reading before they even have a chance to discover what it really is. Between excessive media use and the academic and athletic pressures students have, sometimes it can be hard to find a time to read for enjoyment.
“I read maybe once a week when I want to get away from the world or when I’m in the car. I really like mystery and thriller books because there is always a problem that can be figured out,” senior Sydney Noelke said.
With the new age of technology, many people have turned to their devices alone. While reading can be done online, it causes readers to look at screens for long periods of time, resulting in possible eyestrains. Then, listening to audiobooks decreases the reader’s imagination. The narrator of the story never stops to allow time for the reader to comprehend the content or to paint the mental picture in their head.
“Print is visually less demanding than digital text. It provides spatial and tactile cues to help readers process words on a page. Mindset may also be a factor. If people associate screen time with casual web-surfing they may rush through without fully absorbing the text,” according to brainfacts.org.
People are constantly making sure their bodies are physically healthy through exercise and nutritious foods. So why do they not take care of their minds? Reading strengthens the mind, de-stresses the body and is the key to understanding the world. It will follow everyone everywhere throughout their entire life. It will open doors people never thought existed that lead to new pathways and with it, new experiences.
“Reading is the entrée to knowledge,” Pavonetti said. “If a person wants to be a scientist or an engineer, a veterinarian, a money manager, a beautician, a gardener—almost any job—they will have to read.”
