From the Preface of this 2007 study by the National Endowment for the Arts:
Find the full report at http://www.nea.gov/research/ToRead.pdf
[In this study] "...The story the data tell is simple, consistent and alarming. Although there has been measurable progress in recent years in reading ability at the elementary school level, all progress appears to halt as children enter their teenage years. There is a general decline in reading among teenage and adult Americans. Most alarming, both reading ability and the habit of regular reading have greatly declined among college graduates. These negative trends have more than literary importance. As this report makes clear, the declines have demonstrable social, economic, cultural and civic implications.
"How does one summarize this disturbing story? As American, especially younger Americans, read less, they read less well. Because they read less well, they have lower levels of academic achievement. (The shameful fact that nearly one-third of American teenagers drop out of school is deeply connected to declining literacy and reading comprehension.) With lower levels of reading and writing ability, people do less well in the job market. Poor reading skills correlate heavily with lack of employment, lower wages, and fewer opportunities for advancement. Significantly worse reading skills are found among prisoners than in the general adult population. And deficient readers are less likely to become active in civic and cultural life, most notably in volunteerism and voting.
"Strictly understood, the data in this report do not necessarily show cause and effect. The statistics merely indicate correlations..."
Please look at the report and decide for yourself how strong those correlations are. Post a comment with your reaction. What does this mean for curricula at Camden County College? the College's relationship with the high schools in the area? implications for programming at our new Center for Civic Leadership and Responsibility?
