Posted on 04/03/2009 8:02:06 PM PDT by Steelfish
Books left on the shelf: A fifth of pupils only read blogs and magazines
By LAURA CLARK 04th April 2009
The National Literacy Trust is backing an initiative to encourage reading - using footballers as role models
One in five youngsters never picks up books outside school, a poll has found. Instead, websites and blogs have become children's reading matter of choice.
Pupils ranked social networking sites, blogs, general websites and magazines above books in a major survey of their reading habits.
A quarter did not believe that being a proficient reader would help them achieve success in future.
A similar proportion thought that being successful meant having lots of clothes, being famous and owning a flash car.
The findings came in a study of 2,176 pupils aged seven to 15 by the National Literacy Trust, which is backing an initiative to encourage reading using footballers as role models.
Players have been asked to name their favourite books - Wayne Rooney chose Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone - and work with schools and libraries to promote reading.
The survey found that 19 per cent never read fiction books and 20 per cent never read non-fiction.
In contrast, almost two-thirds surf websites every week, 55 per cent read emails and 46 per cent blogs. Just 40 per cent said they read fiction every week. Meanwhile 24 per cent failed to see a link between success and reading.
While most believed being happy, having a good job and a good education was the definition of success, a quarter cited cars, clothes and fame
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
A girl of about twenty or so, who voted for Obama, and thinks he’s wonderful and can do no wrong told me yesterday at work, (and serious here folks).
“I don’t see what the problem is” (meaning with the financial crisis)”all they have to do is print more money”. she finished with an annoyed look on her face, as if it’s ‘so simple’.
No joke, here. The kids today, they aint geniuses.
No surprise. I’ve theorized that a generation of public school and college educated kids is what brought us the current catastrophe in BHO.
They have several palettes of books from an Air Force base out at the Army Surplus store. I dive right in. People are walking by looking at me a little weird. Got about 40 so far. Hardbounds in really fine shape for $2.50 each.
I didn’t own a computer until 2004. When my kids hit high school. They weren’t allowed to turn in any hand-written reports. And it did make research easier. That policy made for a waiting line at the library to use one of their computers.
It’s hard to read a Shakespeare play on computer. So our public schools mass-produce millions of illiterati who get their info and history from John Stewart and hence our current mess: political and financial.
I just so happen to have the complete works of Shakespeare in (gasp) book form. Haven’t reread them for 20 years though.
Either are a lot of adults.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.