Why is this Important?
It’s not hard to recognize how important learning to read is. According to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, approximately 32 million adults in the United States can’t read and write. Results on reading performance from the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveal that only 34% of fourth grade students and 32% of eighth grade students performed at or above proficiency level in reading. And these scores are down from the earlier scores in 2019.
Why is this? Is there something wrong with our schools? Is there something wrong with our nation? Is there something wrong with our children? The answers to such questions are complex, but clearly reading proficiency is a problem for many. Let’s spend a little time thinking about why this is important to us. Does it really matter how well we as a society are reading? How important is it that our children learn to read well?
Think about this: As our society continues to become increasingly mobile, fast-paced, and complex, what happens to those who lack good reading skills? They become increasingly disconnected from society and culture. Those who can’t naturally and effectively navigate the world of print can find themselves increasingly alone with narrowing opportunities to interact with significant people and significant ideas.
Not only is this devastating for individuals who don’t read well, but it is devastating for our society as a whole. Lack of literacy skills is highly correlated with levels of poverty and joblessness. In turn, this leads to significant problems in terms of public health and safety. Life is not easy for those who can’t make it in terms of performing basic literacy skills. Many drop out of school. A high percentage of those who wind up incarcerated in our prisons score at the lowest levels in terms of literacy. There is a sense in which the success of our society depends on the participation of all of our citizens in the exchange of ideas through the medium of print. As our society and culture continue to evolve at an ever-increasing pace, it is essential that our children become powerful and confident users of print.
Let’s get personal. Why is it important that your child, or my grandchild, become a powerful reader and writer? The ability to read and write and use print is the crucible in which we discover who we are, appreciate what we share, and dream about what we can become. It is a precious thread that allows us to weave the tapestry of our lives – as individuals and as a society. We must do all we can to give our children the gift of reading and writing, and to celebrate the power of literacy in our homes and families.
So let’s agree that becoming a reader is important for the children we care about. In our next blog we’ll spend some time thinking about where reading comes from.