Why is Reading Important?

Millions of adults in the U.S. have such low levels of literacy that they cannot read a newspaper. 38% of 4th graders nationally cannot read at the basic level, which means they cannot read and understand a simple paragraph from an age-appropriate children's book. In some school districts in this country this figure rises to over 70%. Very few children with serious reading difficulties ever graduate from college. They suffer disproportionately from social ills such as delinquency and drug abuse. Their job prospects are limited.

Beyond these economic and social factors, people who cannot read or cannot read well are unable to experience the joys of learning, the opportunities for self-reflection, or the simple pleasures of being lost in a book. As that great philosopher, Groucho Marx, put it:

"Outside of a dog, a book is Man's best friend.
And inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

We will hear a lot about early cognitive development and pre-reading skills at this gathering. As we think about these topics, let's keep in mind that reading difficulties are not abstractions. They are very real, intensely frustrating experiences in the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of children who struggle to learn to read.

What can we do to prepare children to learn to read so that they will not experience these frustrations?