No, not buses. Reports that prove Britain is dumbing dows:
Academics from Dundee University analysed children’s reading habits throughout primary and secondary education and found the difficulty of books “declined steadily” from the age of 10 onwards.A picture book? Are you kidding me?
It emerged that The Very Hungry Caterpillar, a classic picture book by Eric Carle which charts a caterpillar’s week-long transformation into a butterfly, was one of the most popular books among 14- to 16-year-old girls in England.
The disclosure came as a separate study revealed classics such as Wuthering Heights and To Kill a Mockingbird had dropped out of a list of the top 10 most popular books for teenagers in a generation.*sigh*
Even Estonia is ahead of us:
Data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed teenagers dropped from 17th to 25th in a global league table, being outperformed by nations including Liechtenstein, Poland and Estonia.And yet, the study found that things start off well:
The study found that in the first four years of compulsory education pupils generally read books “above what would be age appropriate”.But then there’s a gradual decline:
Five of the six most popular books read by eight and nine-year-olds in the fourth year of school were by Roald Dahl. The most popular was The Magic Finger, followed by Fantastic Mr Fox, The Twits, George’s Marvellous Medicine and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
By the time children reached Year 8 of school, four of these books were still among the most popular titles, although the top choice was Holes, the award-winning novel by Louis Sachar published in 1999.And then it all goes to…well, see for yourself:
In the final two years of school, boys and girls read books that were “well below what might be expected at this age”, the study said. The Very Hungry Caterpillar was the 12th most popular book chosen by girls, while boys often favoured “very easy” books by Peter Lancett, the British-born thriller writer.Is it puberty? Is it the pressure of exams? Is it the prevalence of computer games? Is it a culture thing, no longer is reading seen as ‘cool’ by your peers?
I’m sure there will be numerous theories.
16 comments:
Boys were always much harder to interest in reading, so that part doesn't surprise me. But the rest! I love The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It's a brilliant book, and both my daughters loved it.
At age 3 or 4.
No-one places demands on children any more, and if you don't ask, you don't get.
Of all the books that exist, it had to be The Very Hungry Caterpillar that was most popular? Among 14 to 16-year-olds?
What?
I must say, however, that I too found myself going off books a couple of years ago. Don't really know why though – probably just lost interest.
Speaking of dumbing down, take a look at this – apparently the phrase "may cause drowsiness" is too confusing!
The decline of civilisation has begun...
I wouldn't have posted that link if I had known you had already blogged about it!
"The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all, it is
simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to
breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and
originality." H.L. Mencken
Therein lies the reason for your post methinks, Julia.
I'm impressed. There are members of the txt genr8shun who actually know what a caterpillar is.
Srsly.
It could be good news - maybe the 14 year old girls are reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to their children.
There's something very suspect about this study. Were they given a list of books to choose from? This book is listed as 12th. It may be a case of kids in a study just picking one at random.
When I was at middle school, I remember they had some "book club" thing where there was a considerable expectation that every child would order a book from this catalogue. I was a voracious reader as a youngster, generally reading "above my age" and science books and stuff like that. Typical nerd.
I remember the catalogue contained virtually nothing but worthy, educational- that is dull, crap- books. There was nothing in it I wanted to read. In the end, udner pressure, I found nestling near the back a Charlie Brown ("Peanuts") book and ordered that. The teacher- despite knowing my general reading and education level- experssed great concern to my parents that something was wrong if a 12 year old would order that book.
The only thing that was wrong was that the books the education mullahs were expecting me to read were boring, preachy shite.
I’m sure there will be numerous theories - all funding excessively by the rest of us.
We know the answer, make teachers teach and not act as social workers. Stream/segregate the little darlings so that those that can, and are interested, learn.
The "cool dudes" can go and twiddle their thumbs in another room.
It's the result of feminising education.
Playing "Devils Advocate" it is possible that the "researchers" were having their chains gently pulled. My own School Library did not have a copy of "The Red Badge of Courage" when I advised a pupil to try that rather than "approved" literature. Frankly the "approved" literature is, in many areas, a waste of printers ink. Books like "King Solomons Mines" etc are long off the approved list.
TTFN :)
Michael
*Even Estonia is ahead of us*
You write that as though Estonia is a euphemism for some third world backwater.
Their education system was totally redesigned just after they won independence from Russia. It is based on the best that the various European systems had to offer at the time and is therefore similar to that found in Finland, Sweden and Germany, which would explain their league table positions.
They certainly don't mess about with our "prizes for all" style system as they have have active streaming from age 14 into academic and trade based educational strands.
< /Eesti fanboy>
What I couldn't figure out from the article was whether they were asked to name a book or to pick one from a list. If the latter - and they had never read the classics mentioned - then it may be explained by the fact that that was the one book they recognised.
Or it could just be that the children were pulling the researchers legs.
Personally I gave up on the school library very early and resorted to raiding my parents' bookshelves as well as expanding my own. Many of my contemporaries however probably gave up reading for enjoyment by the time they became teenagers - if indeed they had ever done so.
"Britain is dumbing dows"???
Not "down", perhaps?
In the grip of some vile virus at the moment. You've been 'keeping my pecker up' Julia - a phrase we could once use in all innocence. Nearly every story you find is a gem, and I feel led to the sparkle through the slant you bring without coercion. Brill. Just now I want the entertainment distraction, but there are some really deep points in your blogs.
Getting old is merely teaching me how little changes, other than through science most never learn to 'read'. Thanks for the smiles mate.
"No-one places demands on children any more, and if you don't ask, you don't get."
It does seem that every effort and initiative lately is aimed at making things 'easier'.
I wonder where this is leading...
"The decline of civilisation has begun..."
It does indeed feel that way, lately.
"It could be good news - maybe the 14 year old girls are reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to their children."
*weeps*
"There's something very suspect about this study. Were they given a list of books to choose from? "
I am always rather suspicious when they don't show their methodology. And you can't expect reporters to ask now, can you?
"Playing "Devils Advocate" it is possible that the "researchers" were having their chains gently pulled. "
Yes, there's a distinct possibility.
"You write that as though Estonia is a euphemism for some third world backwater."
Guilty as charged! ;)
"Personally I gave up on the school library very early and resorted to raiding my parents' bookshelves as well as expanding my own."
Ditto!
"Not "down", perhaps?"
Ooops!
"In the grip of some vile virus at the moment. You've been 'keeping my pecker up' Julia..."
Glad to be of service! Get well soon :)
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