“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Three young adults came into the library, went straight to their own computers or personal tablets from school, and their phones by their sides. An older patron came in, looked, and commented, “No wonder we can’t carry on a decent conversation with each other.”
I suppose that is what people thought about the radio in the 1920’s entering our young people’s lives and interrupting the invented print of 1846 or the mass production of continuous print in 1865. What about television in 1927 that kept us away from books and reading? The first video game of “Pong” in 1972 probably didn’t help the reading situation either.
We fast forward to 2017 and the technology that seems to keep us away from print. I say “seems” because a child learns early to master small amounts of print (we call it environmental print) in order to read all of the video-know-hows, text messages, signs and advertisements in order to get more out of their video games, cell phones, iPads, tablets, etc.
That older patron checked out his book and continued, “I think reading still puts more vivid images in your head than you can watch on any device!” How true!
A good writer uses brilliantly placed words to tell their story, and faster than technology, your brain takes you to that place, situation, and time in more vivid colors than……the NBC peacock!
“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” The greatest gift we can give a child – and I know this after 20 years as a Reading Specialist and 18 years as a Reading Recovery teacher – is to teach them to read. Technology may try to tell you to buy a program or device to get your children reading, but a warm body, a friendly face, and quick, varied, real responses are what works. Reading is like food you offer to any age. If they see other people eating it, then they are apt to give it a try. Let’s keep putting books in front of people.
“The more things change, the more they stay the same” humorous quotes:
“”What a school day! The computers broke down and we had to read!”
“Yes, some books are in high definition – they call them dictionaries.”
“I’m taking an innovative approach to teaching next semester – I’m using books!”
Happy Book Reading!