Deciding what kids can read

[yalithb223]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Tyler Hewitt <tahewitt at y...> 
wrote:
> 

> "As for deciding what kids can and cannot read, I have
> to say that I disagree very, very strongly with
> this...
> 
> ...For the most part, kids don't read things for which
> they're not 
> ready. "
> 
> 
> I agree with you completely on this. I don't have
> kids, but if I did, they would be encouraged to read
> anything they chose.
> 
> When I was growing up, I was allowed to read whatever
> I wanted. I was NEVER prevented from reading anything,
> no matter what the subject matter or reading/content
> level. I read mostly kids books, but I was an avid
> reader and basically read anything I could get my
> hands on. 
> 
<snip>
> I credit my lifelong love of reading and a fairly
> healthy intellectual curiosity with my being able to
> read whatever I wanted (and watch whatever I wanted-tv
> was completely uncensored for me as a kid). I sure as
> hell didn't get it from the lackluster education I
> recieved in my hometown's public school system (I
> argued with my school librarian to let me check out
> books reserved for 6th graders when in the 4th grade.
> She was unwilling to let me until my mother intervened
> on my behalf. I still don't know what was so advanced
> in the O. Henry and Louisa May Alcott books I checked
> out of the 6th grade section). At home I was able to
> explore whatever caught my fancy, and as a result was
> occasionally challenged intellectualy, something I
> almost never got at school. 

I totally agree with you on this.  I was also allowed to read whatever I would 
when I was growing up.  I have been a voracious reader all my life.  I actually 
refused to read what was assigned to me (having already read most of it) in 
favor of more stimulating material from the school library.  I outgrew the fiction 
section at my school very rapidly, and I moved on to the nonfiction.  

I have turned completely into trivia buff.  I know a lot of "useless" stuff.  I guess 
I'd be great at jeopardy, lol!  Anyway, my point is, we need to challenge our 
children.   We expect so little from them and that is what we get in return.  Our 
declining knowledge as a general population is not due to children who are 
less able, but children who have low expectations placed on them by parents, 
the school system, and the world in general.

I understand that there are children with difficulties who need extra help, but 
I'm talking about your average child.  It is not unreasonable to expect a child 
to learn to read at age 4 in my opinion (I learned at age 3).  But there are still 
young people in high school who read at a grammar school level.  We place 
too much emphasis on being popular or being good at sports and not nearly 
enough on academic achievement.  

I also believe that we don't provide nearly enough support for those students 
with some learning difficulties.  I have a friend who was diagnosed with 
dislexya at age 8, but no one did anything to help him with it until age 15.  As 
a result he dropped out of school.  He still claims to be unable to read to this 
day.  I know he is able to read, but only very rudimentarily.  How is is possible 
that he made it through 10 grades of school with only 2nd or 3rd grade 
reading ability?

Anyway, done with my ramble.  I find that this problem really gets to me 
because I teach at the college level.  Each year, I feel like they're getting 
farther and farther from my reach.  And I'm floundering for something to do 
about it.  That's one reason why I feel that the HP books are so great.  I think it 
is wonderful that book is finally more popular than a video game.  

Jessica I.