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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Schools Matter: Are children shunning books?

Schools Matter: Are children shunning books?

Are children shunning books?

Sent to The Telegraph (London), August 23, 2100

Re: "Warning as children shun books in favour of Facebook," August 22

Since 1840, newspapers have been reporting on the decline of literacy among young people. It wasn't true 170 years ago, and there is no reason to believe it is true now.

The Telegraph notes that pleasure reading declines as children get older. This has been reported in every study of this kind ever done and there is widespread agreement among scholars that increasing demands of school play a large role.

The Telegraph reports that that technology-based reading is more popular. This is not a cause for alarm. My