US Adolescent Literacy Rate Declining By: Desiree Pratt

With technology advancing, more issues are surfacing. There has been discussion on the impact of giving toddlers and young children iPads before the age of five. While iPads can be benefitable, they can be, just as much, hurting children. Mrs. Hill, a librarian at Hillgrove High School, expresses the matter, “Kids are basically born with a screen these days. And you know, picking up a book is not always the first thing that a child wants to do, or maybe is not the most convenient thing for a family to do. So, I think there's just a lot of competition right now.” iPads are convenient, easily accessible, and they help distract children perfectly. It is hard for parents to say no to an issue that works so well. But certain issues need to be addressed as this issue is being shown in classrooms today. Many teachers have said that they have a difficult time getting certain students to adhere to the reading task, or a simple assignment, which has made teaching a lot more difficult. Mr. Solenska, a history teacher at Hillgrove High School, explains, “You got kids at all different levels. So, I could have one class and one kid's reading sixth grade level, another's reading at a ninth-grade level, and others reading at a 12th grade level. So, it's hard to meet all those different demands in one classroom.” 

The US is also facing a teacher shortage, due to issues related to the Literacy decline, and attitudes towards learning or being in a learning environment. This has led to some children not being able to access the education they deserve. Reading is a perfect alternative to not being able to reach or access a classroom.  Some children view reading as a boring task, but many teachers have expressed that reading something that children view as enjoyable would be a great start to change. Mr. Solenska added on, “Obviously, if you know, get word out about library cards make it easier for me at library cards, maybe even set up, like community events where, like, having a mobile reading station that can come around for people that can't get to a library regularly.” Children also only have so much power and say at such a young age. Teachers have expressed that it takes a village, and that parents and teachers must work together to influence children to read, Mr. Solenska continues, “ I think, you know, just starts with just based communication, maybe coming up with a list of books that students might be interested in, sending that home to the parents, letting know what resources our library has, not just for books, but just literacy in general. Improve literacy.” 

Lastly, it is human nature to find things you like more interesting than things you don't like. If children were able to read what they like, and educate themselves more in their interest, more children would read. Also, the environment children read in, a cold, quiet library, could be off-putting to certain children, or even uncomfortable. If libraries made room for a more comfortable space, it would possibly attract more young readers. Dr. Bailey, a statistic teacher at Hillgrove High School, explained that and even expressed how Hillgrove demonstrates a welcoming environment. “One thing I do like as far as the environment is we have a really, really cool Media Center, or library, as some people call it, where we have those little stations, those comfy chairs, those little nooks where people can read and just feel like they're in their own little world. Also, different classrooms have reading chairs. I also see teachers who are outside their classrooms, like the pictures of them reading. So it's like, I feel like we're doing a great job of promoting it and creating these little spaces for people to read.” While were not seeing the results from the lack of engagement in the classroom and with literacy, it will appear in the coming years. This is something we must get ahead of, before its too late.