03/05/2016
Leadership is developing those who will have the imagination needed to create solutions
Children lose habit, and joy, of reading.
That was the headline to an article by Miles Godfrey in Saturday’s paper (Daily Telegraph. 30 April, 2016). Citing research from the University of London, the University of Edinburgh and Professor Rosemary Johnston of the University of Technology Sydney, Miles prosecutes the case that only 37% of “children in the ‘critical’ age group between six and 17-years-old are ‘frequent readers’. He further relates that “just 17 per cent of those aged 15-17 reading frequently”. Professor Johnston’s solution is for schools and parents to spend more time reading or encouraging reading in their children. As a friend of mine says, it ain’t rocket science (deliberate misuse of English noted).
Now, one could argue that they read more than ever before on their iPads, iPhones and iWhatevers, but it seems that their eye-sees are not taking it in. Further recent research shows that actual comprehension and retention rates are dramatically lower from the use of electronic reading devices than they are for the old-fashioned hard print media.
A major private school in Sydney has even taken steps to ban all electronic media from classes in order to re-establish better information and learning retention and recall.
There is something special about the tactile nature of a book. You hold it in your hands. You can take it with you on a train, a plane or even under the covers in bed. You turn a page as your own imagination transports you to a world of your own making – and not that of an unknown digital artist, as talented as they may be.
Reading brings you stories of places in galaxies far, far away or brings to life the story of inspiration and hope. They let you become the hero as your imagination puts you into the story. They will make you laugh and cry and give pause to think. And who has ever read that one book that made you late for work simply because you just had to finish that one page, that one chapter or maybe the whole book in a single reading?
I grew up with books. They saved my life. They gave me something to believe in when things weren’t that good. They introduced me to people and ways of living I would never have thought about or could ever have known without them. They let me find me.
Charlie "Tremendous" Jones says, “You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” How true that statement is, especially for budding leaders.
Yes, encourage our children to read. Give them the even just a few moments in a classroom or at home where they switch off and get switched on – to real reading.
Now, if you will excuse me, I’m off to read my new second-hand book, “The Forth Estate” by Jeffrey Archer…..550 pages for just 50 cents at the market last Saturday!
