31–40 of 59 posts
"About 46 percent of white children are considered “proficient” in reading, compared with 18 percent of black children and 20 percent of Hispanic kids.
Those gaps remained relatively unchanged over the past 20 years, according to the report."
I.e., it's likely that the change in the average is driven by a change in the proportions of the components, not a shift in the by-component means.
I do not see the problem. I have never read books for pleasure. Most of the books I own are technical or reference material that have practical applications. Why would I want to read for pleasure? I did not find anything interesting about The Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies, or To Kill a Mockingbird which were standard readings when I went to school. Maybe I do not have the imaginative capacity like those peopl…
Story-telling is important for society. It teaches us how people might react to situations we are not immediately familiar with, and how to empathise with people (characters) who have a different viewpoint than our own. And, it teaches us how to communicate our own stories effectively (as you have done here, in fact). So, I find it strange that you have never enjoyed reading fiction books. It is not necessary to read…
Story-telling and reading are important because they are enriching, pleasurable activities; among the best there are, in fact. That they also make you a better person is a welcome bonus.
It's not just kids. About 6 months ago, I started reading "Constellation Games," a really fun and clever sci-fi novel. Yet it now sits on my desk about 2/3 complete. I didn't lose interest or anything -- I simply find it increasingly difficult to set aside time for pleasure reading, for a variety of reasons. Even though I enjoy long form reading, it's now something I have to schedule and force myself to do. I'm not s…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Standard assigned readings may not interest you precisely because they're assigned. You're telling me you've never read a novel on your own? Not Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, nothing?
>You're telling me you've never read a novel on your own? I have never read a novel. I was curious whether I could finish one, so I tried to read the first Harry Potter book. I did not continue after the fifth chapter since it felt like work.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Story-telling is important for society. It teaches us how people might react to situations we are not immediately familiar with, and how to empathise with people (characters) who have a different viewpoint than our own. And, it teaches us how to communicate our own stories effectively (as you have done here, in fact). So, I find it strange that you have never enjoyed reading fiction books. It is not necessary to read…
It's true that story-telling is important for society, but I also find this view a bit... utilitarian. Story-telling and reading are important because they are enriching, pleasurable activities; among the best there are, in fact. That they also make you a better person is a welcome bonus.
That's a story for the ages...
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Standard assigned readings may not interest you precisely because they're assigned. You're telling me you've never read a novel on your own? Not Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, nothing?
>You're telling me you've never read a novel on your own? I have never read a novel. I was curious whether I could finish one, so I tried to read the first Harry Potter book. I did not continue after the fifth chapter since it felt like work.
"Despite the large percentage of children with below-basic reading skills, reading scores among young children have improved since the 1970s, according to one test that measures reading ability.
The reading scores among 17-year-olds, however, remained relatively unchanged since the 1970s."
Actually, this Reuters article touches on this:
"Rideout cautioned that there may be difference in how people encounter text and the included studies may not take into account stories read online or on social media."
And therein lies the problem with the study. Kids probably do more reading- online, on social media, text messages and in video games.
Granted, the quality of writing encountered is likely substantially lower (certainly a subjective claim), I think kids are probably reading a lot more than this study suggests.
I do not see the problem. I have never read books for pleasure. Most of the books I own are technical or reference material that have practical applications. Why would I want to read for pleasure? I did not find anything interesting about The Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies, or To Kill a Mockingbird which were standard readings when I went to school. Maybe I do not have the imaginative capacity like those peopl…
[0] - http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-fut...