I like to read. That’s just how I’ve always been. When I was a kid my mom used to yell at me to go outside and do something because I sat around and read too much. Seriously - ask my siblings. Reading was just something I loved and still love to do. I loved classic literature, biographies, sci-fi and fantasy. I loved being able to experience things through the eyes and shoes of others. Reading about deep sea adventures, the conquest of peoples and nations, people stranded on desert isles, etc, etc. I feel like this opened my eyes to many things. I was also able to talk intelligently about so many things in elementary and wow teachers left and right.
Then I came to high school and kind of stopped reading for fun. I had things to read for class, I played football, I was in band and high up in the echelons of the chess club. I had things to do and not enough time for much else. Then I hit college and had even more to read and even more social opportunities to meet people and foster relationships. Eventually I was done with that college thing though and in 2003 I started reading for fun again. This summer, Robby, Liz and I have started a book club and have currently gotten through one book.
So I guess it comes as a shock to me when I talk to many of my friends who have read little to no books. I feel like I’ve read more classic than contemporary literature, but I’m talking zero books here. It’s like a generation of TV watchers and videogamers have replaced the book readers. I enjoy TV and movies as much as the next guy, but I started out on books. In fact, I watch at least three movies a week on average. There have been days where I’ve watched 8+ movies, and I have been known to do a tripple header at the movie theater.
I think part of the reason I like books so much is that I wasn’t allowed to watch TV as a kid. I also really wanted to learn to read. The first day of kindergarten, I came home quite mad. When my mom asked what the matter was, I responded with, “I can’t even read!” Apparently somebody had told me I’d go to school and learn how to read and I assumed this was instantaneous. So why do the ‘millenials’ of today refuse to read books? I’m not really sure myself. Has the modern movie and entertainment sapped the imagination out of our children? Is it a laziness or lack of attention span? Is it not cool to read books and be smart?
I had an interesting conversation today over lunch with Stefan, Renata, Leon and Michael. We were discussing some of this. In Europe, it happens to be quite fashionable to develop yourself and learn about something. Whether this is local/national history or even a hobby, it’s the social norm to know something. I’ve always heard that the Europeans come out of the high school equivalents much smarter, brighter and globaly aware than their North American counterparts. They may not know all about the NFL, NBA or MLB, but they can tell you about Nietzsche, Alexander Dumas or King George. So what’s really important for being a productive citizen of the world? Is the american education system flawed?
I think my education was a little bit different from the average person just because of some teachers I had, schools I attended, and the promptings of my mother. However, is there really a problem with education in the United States? Other countries seem to think so and they are continually outscoring the US in test scores. Is the real problem funding, facilities and man power? Maybe the problem is that it’s not “cool” to be smart anymore. Maybe the problem is that society as a whole is discouraging children from being all they can be. Maybe we all just need to pick up a good book once in a while and read about something.
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