Random Buzz

Do you realize that the majority of Americans cannot read above a sixth grade reading level?  Do you know that level has actually shown signs of going down in recent years?  That means the problem is getting worse, not better.  What is happening in our schools; what are they teaching us for the 6 years after sixth grade?  To me, this is just not acceptable; something should be done.  Reading is knowledge; it's power.  People should not be deprived of this wondrous gift.  No one wants to read a book that is frustrating to understand.  I believe everyone should leave school with the ability to read at the grade level that they completed.

What do you think about this?  This is a site for people who are obviously passionate about literacy. ( We all love to read)  Do you think the statistics are accurate?  I know there are people who can't believe this, and of course, you have to consider that the statistics also include people who never graduated high school and who have special needs.  Still, I think it is a shame the average is so low.  I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter.  What do you think could be done to fix it?

Posted Jun 12, 2009, 12:30:29 AM

I am positive those statistics are true. iThese statistics don't make me angry but confuses me since I can't understand why the level could possibly be so low. Saieeda made a great point what are they teaching us for the 6 years after sixth grade? It's part our schools faults but mostly our owns.Most schools don't care about the students which is a huge problem. But students should also take some responsibility for their own education. You can't wait for someone to teach you, you have to teach yourself also. I think one of my favorite quotes which was said by Mark Twain says it all. Don't let schooling interfere with your education.

Posted Jun 12, 2009, 09:22:10 PM

I think that some schools are also underfunded, overcrowded without the resources or the passion to teach kids to read.  If teachers have no motivation kids won't either. 
It's an important topic to talk about, even if you are not a reader being illeterate will hurt you with work, collage, school, etc etc

Posted Jun 14, 2009, 01:41:51 PM

I think that a big part of this is that schools ignore the basics, if they took more time to teach things like grammar, we would be doing much better in this area.  And if they actually picked books for us to read that we would be interested in, kids would think reading would be more fun.  I had to read a book called Cry, The Beloved Country, and I don't think that I can ever read another classic for fear that it would be as bad as this one.

Posted Jun 25, 2009, 05:00:17 PM

Yes, the basics are definitely something schools need to focus on.  They just seem to skip right over grammar, or at least fail to demonstrate it accurately.  (English teachers should be able to write and speak with correct grammar otherwise they need to find another subject to teach.)

If the teachers aren't  educated enough or motivated to teach then they should really look into a different career.  Azalea is right; unmotivated teachers can't motivate kids.  There should be some way to weed those teachers out, but then would there be enough teachers left?  I think yes, but what about you guys?

Posted Jun 30, 2009, 03:02:01 PM

But is not the job of our teachers to bestow that power on their students?  That's the whole reason I want to be a teacher anyway; I want to give kids the power/knowledge they need to succeed.  That's why we have teachers in  the first place.

Posted Jul 03, 2009, 05:52:36 PM

Several years ago my parents began homeschooling me and my siblings, and my mom got a book called Deschooling Our Lives.  The other day when me and her were talking, she happened to mention it, and so I went and got it out of the attic.  I started reading it and it was a really good look at our schooling system and how it may not be as perfect as most people think.

Posted Jul 09, 2009, 06:48:20 PM

It is basically a bunch of essays and short stories I think, so there is no one author, but it was edited by Matt Hern.  It is about how teachers teach, like what techniques they use and the alternatives to regular schools.

I don't know what it is really, but it was mentioned in that book.

Posted Jul 14, 2009, 07:04:06 PM

Children usually aren't going to read books they don't like if they don't have to.  If a teacher can find that amazing book that grabs a kid powerfully enough, then I consider that a success becuase that child is going to start look for books; they're going to want to read more.  The more they read, the better they will get at reading.

Last Modified Jul 25, 2009, 02:19:01 AM

So what exactly is it that gets a kid hooked?  Is it the book?  If so, what about the book?  Do they just need to find something that is relevant to them?  That's what it was for me; I found a series with characters I could relate to.  What it the same for any of you or was it something else?

Posted Jul 25, 2009, 02:21:45 AM