What’s in reading?

Gracie Smith
MSMU Class of 2027

(9/2024) Reading as a form of entertainment has been made almost irrelevant given the technological advancements of social media. The fact cannot be disputed that people are more attracted to visual actions that can be watched rather than visual actions through words where you are forced to imagine. Due to this fact, I fear that the joy of reading will eventually be lost in time.

That said, why is reading important? Beyond the means of old-fashioned entertainment, reading is essential for basic communication. We have emails, texting, media, and yes, books. As technology furthers in development, our young learners across the nation continue to struggle. Something has to be done about this.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), two-thirds of US children cannot read proficiently, and 40% are nonreaders. One of the first things we teach our children is the alphabet so they can learn how to read and write. Why do we do this? Is it because everyone does it? Is it because it’s part of the curriculum? Or is it because society is shaped for those who are literate, and to be successful you must know how to read and write? Let’s ponder this.

Most people begin introducing their children to the alphabet between the ages of 2 and 3. Preschool helps in solidifying their recognition of the letters so that by kindergarten (around ages 5 or 6) children can almost completely identify every letter of the alphabet. However,… why do we do this? Most toddler toys revolve around learning. Whether it be colors, numbers, shapes, and yes, letters, a decent chunk of toddler toys are centered around expanding their horizons. I find it interesting that this concept fades the older a child gets. By the time a child is 5 or 6, toys for that audience are less targeted to teach them and more prone to entertain. For instance, Hot Wheels, LEGOs, dolls, and Nerf guns. Is this to say that strengthening the concept of reading as a child grows older becomes obsolete? What does that say about us as a society? Should we not be striving to ensure that our future generations are properly equipped with everything they need to succeed? If that is true, reading and writing must continue to be strengthened as children age.

We must ask, what is considered "essential" in today’s society to be successful? Is it money? Is it fame? Is it security? One thing that all of these have in common is the basic need of being literate. You cannot be rich if you are unable to communicate by writing. You cannot be famous without being able to read and interact with social media. Lastly, you cannot be safe if you have no way of knowing what is all around you.

I remember my parents being very persistent in my education, and they still are today. I especially remember my mom drilling me with flashcards and helping me pronounce words properly. I hated every second of it, but I remember being one of the top readers in my class because of it. As a kid, that confidence really pushed me to try my best in everything because I didn’t want to disappoint them. I loved being able to come home and make my parents proud, and that still stands today.

Reflecting on everything I’ve done to help myself succeed thus far, I cannot think of one thing that didn’t require me to be literate. From my first job to my college application and then to writing this article, reading and writing have contributed so much to my overall happiness because I am slowly achieving my dream.

Literacy provides so much more than just a "step ahead" in our modern world. In a society created for the educated, being literate is essential to even have a chance at success. What that "success" is can be determined in countless ways. Through reading and writing, we get our news; we communicate with others; we research; we learn; we navigate; and so so SO much more.

For all of these reasons and more, being able to read and write is crucial. Nevertheless, reading and writing have always had a special place in my heart. Hence why I’m writing to you from a newspaper. From a young age, I grew very attached to books. I remember ordering a book while on vacation and reading the entire thing in one afternoon. It’s not something I am particularly proud of, as that book scarred me for life - thank you, John Green. But that said, reading has always consoled me when I needed it. Reading has always helped me to grow and recognize things that I would not have otherwise recognized. Reading has given me second-hand embarrassment that, thank God, I will never have to experience having learned from others. Most importantly, reading has taught me very important life lessons without having to personally face the consequences that they bring.

I could sit here and write a novel informing you all on why reading is important. However, that isn’t what I’m doing here today. What I am doing today is informing you all on why reading is essential. The number of children who are unable to read and write is frightening. The success of our future generations starts with us. Without our support, the future generations lie in the hands of technology. While helpful at times, I am not convinced technology is advanced enough to be teaching children something so critical. By supporting our children, we are ultimately supporting their classmates, their teachers, and all their futures. While not everything we do will have a lasting impact, teaching a child to read and write will have an impact that can only better their lives. Even if they don’t know it. September 8th, International Literacy Day, should be celebrated as a day we recognize our greatest strength and share that strength with others.