17 percent
The central theme of this podcast episode revolves around the diminishing role of books in contemporary education, particularly within middle school classrooms. A disconcerting statistic reveals that a mere 17% of middle school teachers affirm that books remain integral to their pedagogical methodologies. This assertion prompts a reflection on the profound impact that literature can have on young minds, especially during tumultuous periods of adolescence. Through personal anecdotes, I elucidate the solace and companionship that a book can provide, exemplified by my own experience with "The Catcher in the Rye," which served as a beacon of understanding amidst confusion and turmoil. I pose a critical inquiry regarding the future of reading among children, urging listeners to contemplate the profound implications of a world where books are rendered optional, thus questioning what it means to teach not only literacy but also humanity itself.
Takeaways:
- A mere 17% of middle school teachers affirm that books remain central to their teaching.
- The profound impact of literature on youth is exemplified through personal narratives and experiences.
- In contemporary educational environments, the prevalence of screens has supplanted the presence of books.
- Books serve not only as tools for literacy but also as vital conduits for understanding humanity.
- The lack of literary engagement may deprive children of crucial moments of self-recognition and connection.
- It is imperative to contemplate whether future generations will possess the same depth of literary experience.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
What then?
Speaker A:This is commentary from James Brown.
Speaker A:A recent survey of middle school teachers asked if books are still at the heart of their teaching.
Speaker A:Only 17% of them said yes.
Speaker A:17.
Speaker A:I had to read that twice when I was a kid.
Speaker A:The book was the whole show, the lesson, the compass, and the quiet companion in the corner of the classroom.
Speaker A:And for me, that companion showed up when I needed it most.
Speaker A:When I was about 13, I was handed a copy of the Catcher in the Rye during one of the darkest moments of my life.
Speaker A:I didn't ask for it.
Speaker A:I wasn't looking for it.
Speaker A:But a caring adult handed me it.
Speaker A:Holden Caulfeld was confused and angry, lost in the noise of a world and trying to make sense of anything at all.
Speaker A:I didn't love him, but I understood him.
Speaker A:That book didn't fix anything, but it reminded me I wasn't the only one who felt that way.
Speaker A:It kept me company.
Speaker A:Sometimes that's more than enough.
Speaker A:So what then?
Speaker A:What happens to a kid who never has that moment?
Speaker A:Who never opens a book and finds a version of themselves staring back?
Speaker A:Who never realizes that even when the world doesn't make sense at all, someone else has walked that road before?
Speaker A:In today's classrooms, there are more screens than pages, more pacing guides than pauses.
Speaker A:Books are becoming optional, and I worry what that means for kids who are barely holding it together, looking for anything else that makes them feel seen or felt.
Speaker A:A book doesn't just teach you literacy.
Speaker A:It teaches you humanity.
Speaker A:So I ask you, do you think kids in your life will ever read like that again?
Speaker A:And what book helped you?
Speaker A:Hang on.
Speaker A:Let me know in the comments and support my work@jamesbrowntv.substack.com on that note, I'm James Brown, and, as always, be well.
