Happy Father’s Day! I don’t know what your children get you for Father’s Day, but this year, in my family, we chose Jewish books that we think the father/grandfathers in our lives would enjoy. Now, I don’t know if the fathers reading this would appreciate a book. But, there are a number of reasons why a book purchase is a good gift (aside from the fact that the recipients in our family enjoy reading!)
Coincidentally, I came across an article this weekend “Johnny Hates To Read” by Yonoson Rosenblum. He begins with a story:
I recently watched a clip of a group of American college students frolicking on a Florida beach during spring break. They were asked a number of questions, and their answers could easily make one despair of America’s future. First question: Who was the Revolutionary War fought against? No clue. Second question: Who were the two sides in the Civil War? Here at least one of the college students ventured an answer: “Let’s see. It’s called the Civil War. So, it must have been the civilians against whomever was in power.” Where could such comical ignorance have come from? One explanation is that the current generation of high school and college students do not read, and many are functionally illiterate in terms of being able to understand the content of a simple paragraph.
Rosenblum goes on to quote some statistics. In 1976, 40% of 12th graders read at least six books for pleasure in the course of a year. In 2021-22, the number was 13% (even during covid). Over ⅖ of 12th graders today have not read a book for pleasure the entire year. He continues to quote an article from The Atlantic indicating that college students are overwhelmed by reading. College professors complain that students cannot comprehend basic paragraphs. A professor who used to assign 30 pages of reading, now if he assigns more than ten pages students say they are overwhelmed.
Rosenblum then shares his thoughts as to the root of this problem…which you can probably guess. “The main culprit behind the lack of interest in books and magazines is the explosion of handheld devices programmed to provide neural rewards with little effort. Frederick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute reports that in the 1960s, full-time students at four-year colleges spent 24 hours a week studying. In 2022, 70% of such students were devoting less than ten hours a week to studying, even though they are much less likely to hold down jobs than were students in previous generations. So what do they do with their time? Two researchers estimated in 2023 that college students spend an average of seven hours a day on their smartphones, and that they pick them up 113 times a day. That is addiction.” (Rosenblum goes on to discuss a second factor- declining standards and expectations).
And, aside from the lack of knowledge our non-readers are growing up with, the research shows that there are a plethora of benefits of reading that non- readers are not gaining. I will only mention some here. Reading is essential for vocabulary development, improving focus and concentration, enhancing imagination, stress reduction, critical thinking, improving writing skills, improves neuroplasticity, enhances brain connectivity and on and on.
So, what does father’s day have anything to do with this issue? Yes, both mothers and fathers need to be joining our Yavneh Parent Tech Committee, sign the pledge and enforce limits and expectations so our children will read more and be on their devices less. (Shout out for our Parent Tech Committee!)
But, additionally, there is actually research on the impact of fathers on reading practices of children. Dr. Paul Schwanenflugel and Dr. Nancy Knapp (a relation?), in their article “ A Father’s Role in Reading” writes that we all know how important it is for parents to read to their children, (see a column I once wrote sharing that this applies to middle school students too!). But, research indicates that often the parents who read are mothers. Only 19% of young fathers said they enjoyed reading with their children. The fathers who do read tend “to pose more abstract questions that challenge children to use their imaginations or connect what they are reading to outside experiences.” And, reading to their children helps fathers feel more emotionally attached to their children.
Fathers are also important reading role models, particularly for boys. They continue, that if boys only see their mothers reading “boys often begin to see reading as an essentially feminine activity.” And, even as children grow into their teenage years this impact of their fathers on their reading behaviors continues. Fathers who “recommend and discuss books with their teenagers have a positive impact on whether or what they read.”
As we approach the summer, this message of “reading with one’s children” is essential, all year, of course, but especially when school is out, and if they are not in sleepaway camp they are home with us. And, this relates, of course, to “reading”/learning Torah with them as well. The Gemara Bava Batra 21a shares:
דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: בְּרַם, זָכוּר אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ לַטּוֹב – וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן גַּמְלָא שְׁמוֹ, שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא הוּא, נִשְׁתַּכַּח תּוֹרָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אָב – מְלַמְּדוֹ תּוֹרָה, מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אָב – לֹא הָיָה לָמֵד תּוֹרָה..
As Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Truly, that man is remembered for the good, and his name is Yehoshua ben Gamla. If not for him the Torah would have been forgotten from the Jewish people. Initially, whoever had a father would have his father teach him Torah, and whoever did not have a father would not learn Torah at all.
The Jewish educational system used to be that parents taught their children at home. But, Yehoshua Ben Gamla saw that not all had someone to teach them, and so he started the school system. That system developed to the point that parents outsourced learning with their children to schools.
But, during the summer, we have them back! Interestingly enough, I came across an article by Rabbi Yaakov Feitman, “Summer- The Time For Parents To Do Their Homework.” He quotes an article from The New York Times, July 24, 2016 that “experts” are recommending that instead of bribing children to read during the summer, “they don’t necessarily have to be money, treats or toys. It could be that it’s a special thing to go to the library with Dad and that alone time is part of what’s rewarding about it… Such nonmaterial rewards may be the most effective.”
This is our chance! Our chance to engage our children with a love of reading and learning, and to form those connections and bonds with them. So, on this Father’s Day, read a book… in front of and with your child, and as the summer approaches cherish this time with your child and learn together!
Advisory Update:
Sixth Grade: These last weeks of school our sixth graders are engaged in lessons on summer safety- particularly when away at sleepaway camp, gratitude to teachers and creating a success guide with tips for middle school success for next year’s incoming sixth graders.
Seventh Grade: These last week of school students are creating an end of the year time capsule to remember all they accomplished this year and are spending time sharing gratitude with their teachers.
No comments:
Post a Comment