The Elite College Students Who Can't Read Books

I remember my freshman year in college.. 1974/75.. eons ago and I took a senior level political science class. now I am a big reader.. but I did get slammed by being required to read 2-400 pages of a political science book every week. and write short papers on them. every week. some were easy reads.. "one flew over the cuckoo's" nest.. or 200 pages in "The Education of Henry Adams".. but many like hannah arendt were a big challenge.

I was glad for the challenge but boy.. I don't think anyone would teach like that again.. I did go back and read the whole "education of henry adams" about 10 yrs ago.. well worth my time. circa 1905.

As far as reading for pleasure, DH & I both do, and we have read---I couldn't even begin to guess how many books to our kids from birth until they stopped wanting us to read to them. (With my youngest that was about 12.5, and my eldest maybe 11 or 12.)

My eldest went through a phase when they had no interest in reading outside of assigned books, and now my youngest just told me that they don't have any books on their wish list for the holidays this year, which will be the first time that has ever happened. I imagine they will return to reading eventually. That's what happened with my oldest.

Even myself, who loves to read, took a bit of a break this year because I was working on other things in my free time. So I'm not concerned about my youngest wanting a reading break of their own outside of their assigned books.

I’m a public school speech therapist. For my students with delays in comprehension and vocabulary I use literature in my therapy, where I read to them and we work on answering questions, story retells and vocabulary. In the last few years, I have seen a steady decline in the ability to even sit and listen. Now just getting through a short 10 minute picture book is extremely difficult. And that’s with a group of 2 or 3 students. Even with engaging picture books, I get instant complaints of boredom. It doesn’t bode well. The decline in oral language and reading skills are highly correlated.

Quick input: I do want us to be careful about the doom and gloom. On one hand there are concerns about "today's kids" and what is lost, but on the other hand, we need to realize that students of today do have different needs, as does society. I also think we do tend to over-romanticize our past, and we need to be careful with that.

I know many many adults who did not read for pleasure and do not read for pleasure now (Millenials, Xrs, boomers, and silent gen). I know some who used to read that don't now and those who did not read but read now. I read as a kid but I was not a voracious reader. I read about a book a month as a kid/tween/teen. I have read 52 books this year so far. I remember only reading maybe three novels as coursework in high school.

My 16-year-old boys don't read for pleasure. They read for school and "choice novels" in school and they like that, but they choose technology over reading at home; that said, they both know a ton more than I did at 16. They are a wealth of knowledge...not all of my students have that---I do think the environment makes more of a difference than being on technology--(Which in our case is book and vocab rich and full of real-world experiences in our home i.e. we made sure our kids traveled and went to culture-rich activities).  Not all tech is the same either--My one son watches a ton of YouTube.  We have had to weed through some misinformation over the years, but he has become pretty savvy with that now too.  He really knows a lot about so much.  It is crazy sometimes what he knows.

I really feel like I straddle this one. Every day I experience GenZ, and this year, I have the cusp of GenAlpha, who I have been lovingly calling my Honey Badgers...I ping-pong between being charmed and amazed to frustrated and utterly despondent.

We homeschool our 15 DD because of some severe learning disabilities but she DEVOURS audiobooks. When she talks with her friends at dance none of them have novels they are reading for school but many of them read for pleasure but those that don't I think could easily get through high school without reading a book in its entirety.

When I was in the classroom 17 years ago, I remember sitting through a professional development and being told that we were "not allowed" to do read alouds any longer because it wasn't a good use of instructional time nor were we allowed to dedicate time to independent reading. Never mind, each kid had a book I know they could read independently because I knew my students and their reading level. I remember thinking, I won't last much longer in this profession. I had one more year in a classroom, then 5 more years as an instructional coach and then left teaching.

Perhaps it is true in some schools, but I do not think in general it is true. I've been in education since the 80's and stuff like this comes out and people think it is everywhere. Do I wish we would up our expectations for our kids? Yes. Do I think people love to put down the next generation(s) and make sweeping statements? Yes.

Just another data point. My kids graduated from public high school 3 and 4 years ago. Both read a ton of complete novels in high school. One was in the International Baccalaureate program, the other Advanced Placement - for reference. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see both focus on standardized testing and social media etc impacting trends in general. But our relatively recent experience doesn't fit the extremes in the article.

I will say that my daughter in particular will tell you very, very few kids have read a lot of classic books and exposure to children's books is low. She was a super early, voracious reader and we didn't allow a lot of tv/computer time in elementary school. So she read everything - and quite a bit of classics as the reading level and maturity level was a better fit for her. She'll make references to her peers and so many haven't a clue - Secret Garden, Little Women, Black Beauty - if it wasn't a movie, most have never read any of them. We were also a read aloud family for a long time, so they had exposure to all the classic children's stories. I think a lot of parents stop reading to their kids pretty early - at least from what we've seen.

when I was a nanny before pandemic, one of my fav things was to read books out loud (books and poetry) to the kids.. they were in elementary school or younger but they all loved it.

it is a time investment.. but I have fond memories of my 2nd grade teacher reading "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" books out loud to us during rainy seattle lunch times...

I honestly think this is a huge source of the problem. It's all about the test, test, test.

Our experiences are limited, but pretty much in line with this article. DD is a senior at a large public HS. She is on-level, and has had to read a handful of complete books. However, the vast majority of reading they do seems to be long excerpts (i.e. a few chapters) or short stories. DD has dyslexia, so she does not read much for pleasure as it is actual work for her. She does sometimes, though, and does listen to some audiobooks.

DS is a sophomore at a smaller charter HS. He completed 2 years of English last year while at an online school, and although reading was encouraged, no one actually verified it was done. Their in-class reading was all short passages, with the occasional short story or poem. This year he is in AP English and going in-person. They did have a book to read over the summer, but I'm actually not aware of reading they have been doing since then. I know they've been doing a lot of work, but I think most of it is more writing and mechanics and looking at word usage. He used to be a big reader, but that has declined sharply. However, he did ask for a copy of The Odyssey for his recent birthday and actually read it!

I'm a voracious reader, so people not reading is so weird to me. DH has never been much of one (he's definitely 100% STEM brain). I don't think it's much of a coincidence that I'm the least ADHD-ish person in the family. (I suspect it's both cause and effect, to be fair, and then they feed each other.)

This is a really good conversation about an important topic. I have 2 college students - Freshman and Senior. I 100% see these issues going on from my experience being on a school board as well as seeing college kids around my kids struggling big time. But let me also share a really positive reading experience from my kids school. And this school is far from perfect, but this aspect I am really thankful for and proud of. And, I will also add, I read to my kids out loud through middle school. (Think Harry Potter, Wrinkle in Time, etc), we did summer reading program at library, etc, so lots of reading happened at home.

Both mine went to a private Christian school with strong reading programs from PK4 up. Librarian ran a “Quest for the Crown” program that you had to compete to join for Grades 3-5. I want to say they had to read between 20-30 books total for the competition. I LOVED this because everyone was encourages to read and try out and the entire school attended the 4 team competition. Lots of genres included, team work and learning to read for comprehension. Middle school had a book club and teachers required a solid amount of reading - I want to say 2-3 books each 9 weeks (4 nine weeks total) + summer reading that they could select from a list.

I will add, I see a real support for audio books in our school for kids who want or need to listen. I think this is fantastic. Even our AP teacher was supportive, especially for kids with learning challenges. Our school also includes graphic novels in both the Elementary and Middle schools. Again, let’s get kids reading how ever we can.

High School both were in honors/AP. I think the teacher matters tremendously here AND Admin giving teachers room to introduce and allow lots of different kinds of books. My kids were so fortunate to have an incredible AP teacher who was hard as nails, but in the best way. She wanted them to really explore the plot, stories, themes, meaning, etc. They had required reading each 9 weeks as well as an individual book of choice and a group book project that the group got to choose. All of these were complete novels - I don’t remember totals, but I am thinking 2 books a 9 weeks + selections, poems, etc. Also papers due every 9 weeks. AND, for AP test, they did do selected readings, AP test prep, etc. She managed to accomplish both. My kids got 4s and 5s of Lit and Lang AP tests.

They will both say they learned more from that teacher than any other in HS. And my kids are engineering and business majors, so these are not “Liberal Arts” kids so much as kids who loved a teacher who pushed them, taught them how to read in a way that invited critically thinking and reflection vs remembering what happened in chapter 2. She was so passionate about the power of a story.

The other side of this I really saw and felt as a school board member was parents. Parents who wanted their kids to get As, to not have to navigate uncomfortable characters or plot lines. Grade inflation is an issue because of parents 100%. I get it, you want your kid to do well, go to college, etc. I lived it - it is brutal to watch your kid fail, but if they are not held to a standard and expectation, and learn that they are capable of meeting those standards and expectations, they will die on the vine in college.

My kids are at a big state school where there it is still old school, weed out classes, lots of kids who were top 10% in high school show up and don’t know how to study, how to read, how to dig in and work hard and they fail out. The parents cry out and complain. These are the same parents who were rescuing them in high school from anything bad, hard, etc.

When I went to college, we were all told to look left and right and one of us would not be here in 4 years. I think this is still true (my kids go to my college), it’s just parents are unwilling to let their kids struggle and fail and refuse to see this is on the kid, not the school. I struggled a ton in college because I was not well prepared, but eventually I figured it out.

I do think the data shows that Gen Z is bringing crippling anxiety and fragility to college that is different than generations past. We can speculate on all of the causes. I think one is the unintended pressure the helicopter parents put on their kids prior to college to “succeed”. Yes, social media is a factor, but I think even bigger is that if parents rescued them before, if teachers hands were tied and they had to keep giving more chances, etc, at some point, these kids learn they are not capable for doing the hard thing, being independent, etc.

I have so much respect for anyone trying to teach right now. There is pressure from every direction, everyone has an opinion and we have lost sight of the value of struggling, imperfection and the fact that most real growth comes from struggle.

Sorry - I got in a soap box! I just really see the value my kids got from their school experience and it feels so relevant to the article.

I can read. I can finish multiple books in 3 months, heck I can finish multiple books in 1 month.

But are they teaching the same tired books from 1988?

I was assigned the grapes of wrath 3 separate times ( long story not for this thread ) I haven’t read it cover to cover ever. It’s such a drag.
There’s a couple of other books that are also ‘unfinishable’ imo

And while I have read it all the way thru and actually liked it, I have also been assigned that darn groundhog poem 3 times. It’s too much, how many times do they think I want to read about a dead groundhog.

While I know certain classics span the times, It has been more than 35 years I hope they are finding more/other impactful books to read.

I’m pretty sure I have ADD and while I do love reading, and have read books I can’t put down, I can get bored with certain styles ( Steinbeck or Dickens ) I can read a book straight thru staying up all night, or I can struggle to read each chapter. And I grew up pre home computers. So my brain isn’t conditioned to have info instantly. I can imagine growing up with computers and all the access to information that there is now and I’d have tried even less to read Grapes of wrath it’s just one of the crappiest books I’ve ever read.

Anyway, what I’m babbling on trying to say, I think that newer generations have different needs due to growing up their formative years with instant access to information. Their brains are wired differently, they aren’t going to read stuff that doesn’t engage with them. I didn’t, they definitely won’t.

My kids both can read but one likes it more than the other. Even then they’ll read cover to cover stacks of things that interest them and set aside what doesn’t. And I couldn’t argue with them. And they both passed AP English. Only one had to deal with the grapes of wrath.

Today’s youth aren’t any more or less intelligent than past generations, but they have had access to things we never did, they have also been front seat to all the worlds unprecedented events in a way that we never were. Getting info from the evening news or the news papers it was easier to be insulated from world events. Not like we didn’t know but that it was delayed and somewhat filtered by the time we had access. They know life is short and are less apt to ‘waste’ time on what doesn’t engage them or serve a current purpose for them. In a way they are less ‘leisurely’ than my generation. They have to be aware of things all the time, they are constantly assessing if each email, text, website is safe or has malware. It creates a constantly ‘on’ anticipation in a more primitive way than I ever was. I could sit & read a book thru without worrying if it would disappear because my library loan was over. I could read a magazine without worrying if it would brick my TV or shut down my communication. Even in their ‘leisure’ they have to be aware and alert in a way that their brains aren’t going to engage with things that don’t interest them or serve a purpose for them.

It’s not necessarily bad, but it is different.

I’m also in MN and that hasn’t been my kid’s experience at all. Granted, she has been in all advanced classes since 7th grade (they didn’t have the kids split out in 6th which was their first year post Covid) so I’m not sure what they do in general ed English, but she has had multiple full novels assigned in every grade since then. This year alone (9th) I know they are reading something like 4-5 of them in her English class including The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, To Kill a Mockingbird and possibly others. This is in addition to having choice books that they are to read for a minimum of 30 minutes a day outside of class time which has never been an issue for her.

It just blows my mind that there are kids going into college today who have never read a full novel. I guess it shouldn’t though because there were kids in my high school class that were being offered full athletic scholarships who were barely going to graduate.

My kids are 19 and 21, and went to a decent public school in Los Angeles county. Neither took AP or honors classes. Each had to read 3 whole books per school year. They got to pick from a list.
Three isn’t a whole lot, and it’s very different from what I experienced way back in the 80’s.
My daughter enjoys reading, and always has a book in her hand. Not the boy.

I think my kids get a good education in their public schools, largely because they have really smart, motivated teachers who care about learning.  One of the ongoing frustrations I've had, as a person who does care about equity, is that district central staff here often say that they are eliminated advanced options, alternative programming, enrichment, etc. in the name of equity when all they are doing is making it so that kids like mine who have resourced, savvy parents get what they need and kids who don't, don't.  Bill Gates is responsible for a lot of suggestions for education reform that lean in the direction of big classes, lots of tech, complete standardization, and lots of high-stakes testing.  You know where he sent his kids to school?  The private school here that has tiny classes, a very traditional classical private-school curriculum, and pretty much no tech at all.  It's . . . interesting, isn't it?