When I think of my childhood, I picture myself curled up in my bed at an insane hour of the night with my nose buried in a book, hiding under the covers so my mom doesn’t know I’m up late.
I was always reading, even when I was supposed to be doing literally anything else. Books helped me understand myself and the world around me.
So you can imagine my surprise when I found out just how bad the literacy crisis is in America.
The U.S. Department of Education reported in a Sept. 9 press release that 12th graders have declined in reading test scores at an unprecedented level and nearly 70% of 4th through 8th graders cannot effectively read.
Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University released an “Education Scorecard” in May detailing their research into declining student achievement and the possible reasons behind it. They found that since 2013, education has been declining, and it is tied to “the dismantling of test-based accountability and rise of social media.”
Add in the teacher shortage, the lack of funding and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education.
It’s not only the kids that are struggling right now.
In 2022, the U.S. Department of Education found that 130 million adults in America lack literary proficiency.
I came across a reel on Instagram around a week ago where a woman challenged her boyfriend to read a list of words out loud to see if he knew their pronunciation and meaning. It included words like “camaraderie,” “epitome” and “haiku.” Her boyfriend barely passed.
This trend, started by TikTok user “_jessicavictoria” as a simple joke, turned into an eye-opening moment for many on just how big this literacy divide is, and how the education system has failed us the last few decades.
Maybe it’s not the best way to go about navigating illiteracy — by posting your partner online to laugh at, but I think active discussion about reading comprehension is so needed right now.
I don’t blame those who aren’t literate. It’s not their fault that the system has failed them.
I am terrified for our future. So many Americans in our country cannot read, and without a doubt that will affect voting, social trends, research, the news and literally every aspect of society.
Communication is the most important skill a person could have. The ability to understand and critically analyze information and then relay your thoughts on the information is vital for all environments and relationships.
If we all decided to prioritize reading, not just in our schools, but in our daily lives, I believe we could end the crisis and bring a lasting, positive change to our nation.
A great start would be taking a little bit of time you’d spend, maybe watching television or scrolling videos on social media and using it to read something. Could be a book, a newspaper or a magazine.
Reading is where ideas are expressed and perspectives are shared. Sure, you could get some of this information in a 30-second reel — but if that’s the way you learn everything, through short-form content, then you’ll never be an expert on anything. Jack of all base level ideas and facts, master of knowing nothing in depth.
It doesn’t have be the biggest book in the library. I’m not asking for everyone to quit their jobs, move to the mountains and religiously devote their lives to books.
Start with short stories, or with a few chapters a week. Train your brain to reject the need for immediate gratification. If you have kids, read to them and encourage them to start reading more by themselves.
If we want to live in a world where we all can recognize disinformation and make our decisions based on facts and logic, then we need to start reading now.
All you have to do is start at the first page.
