The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. – Mark Twain
With the recent news last week that 15 year-old students of the Philippines performed dismally in an assessment on reading, I was not alarmed. This only confirmed what I already suspected all along that almost nobody reads among our young people today. If ever they read at all, it would not be something that contribute to their growth and development.
The assessment resulted on our students being ranked 79th on reading out of 79 participating countries. This was conducted by the OECD of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development under the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).
You see, most of our teenagers today or even the younger ones, prefer to watch noontime TV shows and soap operas rather than read. They would rather learn how to dance and sing rather than learn to become great leaders by reading books. I am not saying that singing or dancing is not a good hobby because I sing and dance myself. But most people take for granted the negative effects of what technology has done to the minds of our youth. Reading has become so boring to them as compared the more interesting allure of computer and internet games.
His biography would reveal that Abraham Lincoln grew up reading. While other kids play, he was reading. By the time he became a working man, he kept reading. It was told that while his co-workers would take their nap after lunch time, he was reading. It was a habit that made him President.
Our English teachers before require a book report. They told us to read a book and relate the story in class. It improves reading comprehension. I don’t know if they still have that today. For my part, I love reading. I love the smell of books when I open it. And I don’t know why. I devour every printed literature I put my hands on. That doesn’t mean I’m a great man but as one wise man said, reading does to the mind as what exercise does to the body. You become wise than before, you gain a new perspective in life and you become more hopeful in the dreams you desire.
If I could give young people one piece of advice, it would be read, read, read! Read for information, read for pleasure. Our libraries are filled with knowledge and joy, and it’s all there – free for the taking. This is not from me. This piece of advice came from Abigail Van Buren, the famous American advice columnist and talk show host.
