I don't think libraries are necessarily the be all and end all when it comes to kids reading books.

 

With things like Kindle you can get hundreds of books from the Kindle store that are classics and for absolutely free for download.

 

Not every child has a Kindle of course but if they bought 2 less XBox or PS3 games a year they would be able to get one so it is a question of prioritising.

 

Plus a lot of books can be bought for next to nothing in charity shops too.

 

Libraries being cut should only be an excuse for the absolute poorest of children.

And not every child has an XBox or a PS3.

Regardless of what you think of him/his party, it's absolutely true that kids should be encouraged to read.

 

I know plenty of people who haven't read fifty (or even twenty) books in their life, let alone in a year - and that includes adults with university educations (if you only count reading for pleasure).

 

Reading is so important - for a start it helps with spelling and grammar, which are often poorly taught in school (I know from personal experience), and both of which many many people are, quite frankly, crap at (there/their/they're being one irritating example amongst many).

 

I think it's a lot to do with culture though. For a lot of there isn't a great desire to read books. Reading used to be seen as a way to improve yourself and your mind, for all classes - for example, poor, working-class miners would usually have a library in their miners' institutes. Of course literacy and class don't necessarily go hand in hand - there are plenty of thick rich people and intelligent poor people, etc, etc, and there have always been people hostile to reading and learning, as there are now.

 

It seems to me though that there is a lot of hostility towards reading books for pleasure, far more so than there is for learning/education. I don't know. It would just be nice to see more kids - and indeed more adults - reading more books.

 

I would not necessarily say there is a connection between enjoying reading and intelligence reading is as much a hobby as video games or watching tv or listening to music and is not necessarily a reflection of intelligence.

 

I hated reading outside of school, books about Barry Sheene or books about Norton or Harley Davidson gave me pleasure but even to this day I have probably read 5-10 works of fiction outside of school in my entire life and I got top grade at English, have never used txt spk in my life and would describe myself as an intelligent chap.

 

 

There's a lot of hostility towards people considered to be "intellectuals" and people who read books are often considered to be intellectuals. I've never understood why a desire to learn should be anything other than a good thing.

 

You're right about spelling and grammar. I've always been good at spelling and I'm sure that's partly due to the number of books I read as a child.

 

There's hostility towards intellectuals because we've dumbed-down our society and our culture so much. Also, it tends to be the intellectuals who see through governments for what they are and start getting revolutionary ideas...

Not much more to say other than I obviously agree and that the government needs to get their policies aligned. Perhaps some libraries need to review their services but none need to close. I also read like crazy as a kid - and I 100% include the likes of the Beano in this. I've always said: give children something they want to read and they will naturally move on to reading other things. When I look back on my childhood I'm surprised I had the time to read so much with all the TV I watched, Spectrum games I played, football I played (without being chaperoned) etc...but I did. There is plenty space in a young life for reading of all sorts.

There's hostility towards intellectuals because we've dumbed-down our society and our culture so much. Also, it tends to be the intellectuals who see through governments for what they are and start getting revolutionary ideas...

The hostility towards intellectuals has been around for as long as I can remember so it's got nothing to do with dumbing down.

I would not necessarily say there is a connection between enjoying reading and intelligence reading is as much a hobby as video games or watching tv or listening to music and is not necessarily a reflection of intelligence.

 

I hated reading outside of school, books about Barry Sheene or books about Norton or Harley Davidson gave me pleasure but even to this day I have probably read 5-10 works of fiction outside of school in my entire life and I got top grade at English, have never used txt spk in my life and would describe myself as an intelligent chap.

 

Yes, exactly - it doesn't have to be fiction, classics or what literature snobs would say is acceptable. Any books are good. Plenty of people don't read fiction but reading about history, war, cars, sport, current affairs, politics, biographies, whatever - it's all reading and all of that contributes towards part of your overall intelligence.

 

And I'm not saying everyone who reads voraciously is a genius. But reading for pleasure is an enjoyable hobby that expands your knowledge about many things, no question.

 

 

Can't stand Michael Gove.