WomenCo.

Absolutely!  Without doubt!  I didn't get to finish reading the entire article because I'm toggling between work and play here but I have to say this; I think it is first the responsibility of the parents/guardians of children to assess their child's need to read something other than books they find online. My problem with allowing them to read only what they find online lies within the fact that much of what you find online is not "literally correct".  By that I mean there are too many variations of how words can be spelled and what they have come to mean in today's society.  To raise intelligent, well-spoken adults don't they need to know and understand the basics of reading and writing?  Think about it, our children don't even spell entire words anymore (i.e. when they text), hell many of us don't either anymore.  What's worse is the promotion of that "behavior" on T.V.  I think we need to get back to basics here! 

KatS says ...

Absolutely!  Without doubt!  I didn't get to finish reading the entire article because I'm toggling between work and play here but I have to say this; I think it is first the responsibility of the parents/guardians of children to assess their child's need to read something other than books they find online. My problem with allowing them to read only what they find online lies within the fact that much of what you find online is not "literally correct".  By that I mean there are too many variations of how words can be spelled and what they have come to mean in today's society.  To raise intelligent, well-spoken adults don't they need to know and understand the basics of reading and writing?  Think about it, our children don't even spell entire words anymore (i.e. when they text), hell many of us don't either anymore.  What's worse is the promotion of that "behavior" on T.V.  I think we need to get back to basics here! 

Precisely.  I've been shocked at how many times I have had to correct basic English terminology:  thru (through), rite (right/write), 2 (too, to), etc. in my students'  essays.  I'm seriously amazed at how pervasive "text-speak" is in our society.  Just because it's what you use to e-mail or IM doesn't make it appropriate in school or in the workplace, even.  I've never used text abbreviations...they annoy me. 

Besides the obvious value of absorbing the lessons of literature, reading books requires concentration, focus, mindfulness and committment.  These are important skills to instill in chidrenl, especially those who might read a lot, but cannot bear to do much more than short articles, chapters of several stories at a time and blogs.  Even I've had a hard time getting through books recently, especially fiction, because I've also cultivated serious internet habit.  Multi-tasking may be a valued skill, but follow-through and in-depth analysis is also.

I once overheard a debate between my boss and an employee. He said that "Catcher in the Rye" should be tossed because it's dated, and Dave Egger's "We Shall Know Our Velocity" should be read instead.  Not only did my boss dismiss the book as weak, but she insisted that even dated, "Catcher in Rye" should be read because it figures into the language of those in power.  She was referring to the low-income students she usually teaches, but it's absolutely true. Books do not only teach us to read and write, but enable us to communicate deftly with those who will give us opportunities in life. 

YES indeedly doodly,  I always sat that reading is fundamental, of course that is a popular saying these days for most people I know.

But I was taught when I was a  young mother with tiny tots that I am the first teacher my children will ever meet.  Then I just took it

for granted that everybody learned this lesson as well as myself.  But since my tiny tots are now adults, I have learned just the exact

opposite.  I have a nine year old grandson that cannot read as well as my four year old grandson.  This saddens me greatly, because

mother willl not allow him to spend a lot of time with me, there is hardly anything that I can do about.  When I introduced myself to the

principal at the school he was attending when he was eight years old and in the third grade and volunteered to act as a teachers aide

he was pulled out of that school and the other grandmother claimed to be home schooling him.  So then why is it that he can't read?

My family are all strong readers, and the children (none of my own, much to my dismay) would always see an adult with a book, so they wanted to read too! I have suggested to friends that even if they don't like to read, fake it! Have a book in front of you while you watch TV, look like you're reading...but nothing beats reading to a child.

It drives me crazy to see homonymns used incorrectly, i.e. 'waste for waist' , 'their-they're-there', etc. I've seen so many call someone else a "loser', spelling it 'looser'...ARGH!!

Daniela says ...

I, too, am impressed with the amount of poor spelling and grammar I see out there! (Your/you're being my biggest pet peeve!!) And we're not talking just online chat rooms, I'm also referring to things written by kids who went to the best universities in the country!

Though I'm still in my 20s, I can already tell how rare it is to love reading books. Too many kids these days are used to be entertained by a video game or the like. What happened to making your own fun with imagination (and books)?

I'm concerned about kids not knowing how to have fun with imagination, too.

I also wonder about the long term impact of constant high-speed, high-stimulus multi-tasking. How will this affect the brain in later years? Concentration is important in long-term recall and studies are already showing you can't really retain information well when you're doing too many things at once. How do you develop patience when you never have to wait for anything? No doubt we will also see a new type of repetitive motion injury from texting non-stop. I really sound like an old fogie, but as a geriatric/psychiatric nurse, I can't help but be concerned.

kar23 says ...

The "microwave" generation.  Quick and easy, shortcuts.  I don't understand my student staff half the time because they speak, not just write, in acronyms- like the AT&T wireless comercials- LOL, BTW, OMG, I have no idea what else- I don't understand them.  Another recent graduate passed his resume along to me to forward to friends I have in the finace world- I corrected grammer IN HIS RESUME.  Proof reading is a lost art- not that I am strong on that end by any means.

Learning to read (and understand) true literature not only increases literacy, but appreciation for diversity, history and point of view.  Literature supports critical thinking- challenging ideas and forming your own.  Yes, schools should infuse some new and modern texts, but not dismiss "old classics".  They are classics for a reason!  TTYL (dripping in sarcasm).

Great discussion!  Thank you PsyCouture.

Your post reminded me of a funny e-mail I got some time ago.  I'm gonna post it here because as shallow as it may be I think it may also be true in some instances.  The actual e-mail had a pic but for some reason I can't get it to load here (use your imagination).  Here it is:

Literacy is the gateway to success. Personally, I know several people who cannot read. Their shame and frustration became a part of their daily struggle with tasks that others take for granted. My deceased BIL struggled with reading, but he compensated so few friends or family knew he was dyslexic. He quit school and entered the navy. He excelled in construction and learned the trade by repeating what other workers demonstrated. His wife took care of all bills and correspondence. When she died, his daughter helped him with these chores. He never sent a letter or card because his inability to read embarrassed him.

He attended high school in the early 1960s when education did not address reading problems as a learning disability. He missed out on the joy of reading.