I just read an editorial from The State newspaper about what they call "the summer reading gap." Basically a discussion of how richer students read during the summer, while poorer students are less likely to read. Apparently one study found that this "summer slide" accounted for 2/3 of the reading gap between poor and wealthy NINTH graders. (Sidenote: I really miss
having the college/institution access to journals and databases and such. For those interested and with access apparently the study is in the April issue of the American Sociological Review; it's done by John Hopkins researchers.) I have no way to judge how good this study is, but the editorial made me think about my current situation.
I'm already struggling to figure out where I should get books to read while I'm here. Thankfully I have 1) lots of books of my own already, 2) resources to buy books, 3) friends to borrow lots of books from, and 4) money to pay for membership to library in another county (and state) if I decide to go that route (depending on 5) car and time to drive to library).
But the point is that aside from the school library, which isn't open during the summer, and maybe something at the church (I haven't explored yet) there aren't the resources that I've relied on to enable reading, even if you wanted to. I guess it's not surprising that reading ability is (reportedly) so low.
3 comments:
that study about the economic class discrepancy (in terms of reading) is so interesting! i've found i've been able to catch up on some reading this summer (even though i'm still in classes)...basically because sometimes i just NEED to sit and read smthg non academic.
about finding books...can't really offer you any help. but check to see if the libe (that you end up going to) has a mail policy. sometimes pub libes will mail you the book for a fee. that way you don't have to do the commute.
reading rainbow!! good memories.
I really think that I'll be okay for book supply for a while. My housemate's teaching English and has lots of books that I haven't read. And I have friends elsewhere around here. But I know when I visit past homes (college, parents, grandparents....) I'll drool over the books.
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