Friday, August 15, 2008

The Right Not to Read (yes, more about summer reading)

I have loved to read since I was seven my first “chapter book.” As a child I read non-stop – even reading as I walk down the halls at school (occasionally I can still be caught doing that!). I had great plans for this summer – plans to get through 50 – 75 books and catch up on my to-be-read pile.

It didn’t happen. I didn’t come close. Why? Because when it came down to it, I wasn’t in the mood. I’ve been on several vacations. I’ve watched way too much tv (I’ve become hooked on Battlestar Galactica – yes, I am a geek). Now I’m hooked on the Olympics, staying up way past my bedtime and having the tv on every day to make sure I don’t miss anything special.

I have read some, but much of it has been adult murder mysteries and thrillers – genres I don’t review in this blog.

Am I sorry about this lack of reading and blogging? Absolutely not. It’s been a good summer and I’ve enjoyed the things I’ve chosen to do. After all, this is my vacation and I should do with it as I please. And that’s why forced summer reading is wrong. If I, at 43 years old, can do what I want during my summer vacation, why can students do the same thing? This absolutely does not mean that I think kids shouldn’t be reading – I opened up the library at my school several times during the summer in order to encourage summer reading. But I do think it should be voluntary.

Just my 2 cents worth.