If you have been following Facebook and Twitter these past
few weeks you may have come across some articles that are bashing what you
choose to read. My question is why does
it matter what I, or anyone else for that matter, choose to read? Doesn’t that attitude deter people from
reading? Do you really think that by you
saying these things that I’m going to want to run and read what you deem
appropriate?
My sister-in-law and I were discussing these issues the
other day. She believes that reading is not as highly valued today as it once
was and I agree with her. I am a teacher
and every year it gets harder and harder to get my students to enjoy
reading. For the most part, they think
there are better things to do and if they can’t finish the book in ONE day then
it isn’t worth reading. They are used to
being able to get information quickly and be done with it. They can’t do this with a book.
So here’s my thing….as a teacher if I see students reading
books below their grade level, should I tell them to be ashamed of themselves
because it has no merit? No value? Should I point out that they are several
years older than the main character and there is no way they can relate to
them?
The answer to this is NO!
I should encourage them to read at ALL TIMES regardless of the grade level. If I tell them they should be ashamed of
themselves for reading I am turning them off to one of the greatest past times
ever! I have had students who only read
graphic novels. Do I care? NO. Do
you want to know why? BECAUSE I GOT THEM
TO READ!!!! Maybe one day they will be
brave enough to try that chapter book they have been looking at. Even if they don’t think they could ever
finish it, they have the courage to try because I let them explore on their own
terms.
How does this tie in to what is happening
today? Well….it’s simple. Who are you and why do you think you have the
right to tell anyone what they should or should not be reading? If I choose to pick up a YA novel does that
make me a bad person? Does that mean
that I am not smart because I am reading material geared towards a younger audience? Again the answer is NO! I read what I want to read. I read to escape, to live adventures, to
experience first love all over again. I
read to keep up with the trends. I read
to determine what books to share with my child.
I read for enjoyment. And while I’m
at it….I read across the age levels, from children’s books to adult books, from
romance novels to literary fiction. I am
not ashamed of what I read nor will I ever be.
You should not be ashamed either!
Let’s work on building each other up instead of tearing each
other down. Especially over something so silly as what I choose to read.
Just Read!
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