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The statistics are staggering. Reading in America is literally becoming a “past time.” Meaning, quite simply, that it is only something that people used to do in the “past.” In an age where technology and electronics are readily available to distract and entertain young minds, the concept of having a “favorite author,” or even knowing an author is quickly fading.

The Washington Literacy Council makes the claim that “…more than three out of four of those on welfare, 85% of unwed mothers and 68% of those arrested are illiterate. About three in five of America’s prison inmates are illiterate.”

Some researchers blame parents. Some say it’s the decline of public education. Others say technology is the culprit leading to the decline of a literate America. Regardless of your belief, the fact remains that today’s young people, from 1 to 100 can only benefit from enjoying a book or two every now and then.

In Johnson City, school age children from elementary to high school practice reading and writing throughout their school year.

One JCISD middle school teacher stated, “I assign 15 minutes of reading every night for homework. My students are expected to read two books in six weeks. Some twelve books, while others struggle to read just one.”

Teachers across America struggle with trying to teach new concepts at the start of a new school year, just to find out that their students have forgotten the skills they learned in the previous school

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year. The biggest culprit to this loss of memory is actually called “Summer Reading Loss.”

When a student does not participate in the time honored tradition of picking up a good book and allowing their imagination to take them to far away lands, they get out of practice.

Think of it as “training for life.”

A football or baseball player does not simply hang up their cleats at the end of the season and just hope that they can remember the skills they learned from the year and apply them to the next season.

They actually spend their time in the off season lifting weights, working out, and even participate in summer training camps in an effort to make themselves stronger, faster, and more prepared for the next time they step onto the gridiron.

Reading works the same way. While students most certainly don’t need to spend the summer conjugating verbs, or diagramming sentences – reading a book that they find interesting is a great way to stay in practice for their next academic year.

Reading Research Quarterly makes the claim that “out-of-school reading habits of students has shown that even 15 minutes a day of independent reading can expose students to more than a million words of text in a year.”

And to help students and parents alike, the Johnson City Library is prepared to step up to the plate and lend a hand.

Every JCISD student is strongly encouraged to participate in the Summer Reading Program. The program is designed for students ages 5 – 18, and will take place from June 1 thru July 10th.

Participants will be awarded prizes for every 10 books that they read and everyone who enrolls will enjoy a pizza party on July 10th.

Register at the Johnson City Library.

For more information call Bambi Haley at 830-868-9269 or bambihaley@yahoo.com.