Things Look This  Way to Me

Editorial by J.B. McKinley 6/7/07

Reading Around the Year

Looking up from my work scanning lists of college graduates for those from our area and then receiving an email of the most recent column from the ACT “college board” people, the thought comes to mind that May/June is a time when lots of folks think the time for reading is over. The young have been released from mandatory school, the slightly older have heaved a sigh of relief and slammed the $120 boring textbooks shut, and most of the rest of us either don’t think of reading much beyond road signs and directions on the box – if we’re really in a bind.

BUT, and it’s a big BUT, there are lots and lots of really good reasons to read more, or start reading more – right now.

That ACT column quoted a Johns Hopkins 2002 report that claimed as much as 22% of the school year, or two months of instructional time is lost by students who don’t read during the summer.  As for those of us who are currently out of school, how many of us don’t, to some degree, rely on reading to do our work? Would you do your job better and be better placed to move up and earn more money if you read, understood what you read and wrote better?

Hand in hand with the almost universal need to read and read well is the almost universal availability of reading material. Words shout messages at us from every surface. Trashcans are full of newspapers and magazines (I know, have your little joke about this article and its ultimate receptacle!) Everywhere you wait, something to read is within reach. Reach out and improve your skills or those of your kids.

It’s just a suggestion, but sometimes I was even able to stop the reaching out and grabbing at the check out line by reading some of the stuff displayed there to my kids. Pick up something fun to read, even if it is about the pregnant space visitor from Alpha Centauri.

Keeping reading material in obvious places in your house is good for your kids. Mentioning that you read the book, or these days the comic book, that the movie was made from, might get your child to read the real thing. Make the effort once in awhile (tonight?) to snap off the TV when a show isn’t so great and pick up a magazine. Researchers say it is these simple examples that children remember.

Then, of course, there are the truly “hardcore” readers who subject their kids to the Library. But if you are willing to go that far, don’t just visit. Don’t just come in the door and stare around. Engage the librarian in a discussion. They actually love to suggest things you or your children may enjoy reading. There definitely is something to read on the shelves that will make you laugh or cry. Find it.

Well, ‘nuff said. But a week or so from now when we are listening to graduation speeches, take a minute to consider how those folks learned to speak that well and get their points across. I’ll bet all them spend quite a bit of time reading.