LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Today, young teens have social media and television, which accommodate their need for entertainment. Countless teens are using technology not only for entertainment but also to stay informed about daily news. For some young students, books can be associated with educational lessons and didactics. Sadly, when books are believed to be unimportant, students don’t realise the deeper meaning behind reading.
“Whenever we have an author write out their emotions in a book or article, you can tell how passionate they are through their writing,” said Mr. Vasquez, a Los Alamitos High School Wellspace intern. “A lot of students who are going through a mental health crisis can find relatability in books.”
Over the past few years, the decline in reading books has been plummeting severely, especially among adolescents. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, kids as young as nine have shown a slow decline in reading. The study also recorded a decline in the rate of books read among boys of nearly 10%.
“Reading is a great way to learn about the world and things around you,” said Mrs. Jewel, a LAHS Media Center Assistant, “It’s a great outlet, reading can take you out of your stress into another world for your body to be calm.”
When you place yourself in the eyes or point of view of another person, you are experiencing another life. When choosing a book, you can step into a new world; reading not only shows relatability but also shines a light on voices you might never have heard before. Multitudes of authors have written their own experiences into the characters in their books. For writers who have experienced tragedy or inequality, books provide an outlet for their testimony. When readers absorb the stories of others, they gain insight and wisdom they couldn’t normally acquire from a screen.
For some students, drawing attention to books in a world full of technology can be a difficult change. Online scrolling does not require a high attention span, while reading does.
“Books make me tired; it’s hard for me to get interested,” said Jacquelyn Young, a LAHS junior.
For students who struggle to be entertained by books, reading for fun is an unlikely hobby. For many students, school books are the main source of their reading. Although school books teach valuable lessons and ideas, they don’t highlight all of the students’ interests. Young Adult books can often offer a relatable perspective on life, while fantasy books emphasize creativity and the beauty of imagination. Some students may need more time than others to choose books, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any out there for them.
A survey given to 46 students at LAHS shows their likelihood of reading for fun: 11 students responded “never,” 17 responded “rarely,” 13 responded “sometimes” and 5 responded “often.” The ongoing issue of students not reading is overtaking today’s teenagers. The LAHS media center is full of accessible books, but students often don’t take advantage of this.
It is no secret to teachers that students aren’t reading like they have in the past. Efforts to make students engage with books have been and continue to be an important focus for teachers.
“A lot of the English teachers allowed students to check out any book they wanted for their first book of the school year. This is positive because the teachers are encouraging students to read things they want to read, and that can create a snowball effect. If they pick one they like, they might come back and pick another one they like,” said Mrs. Jewel.
There are plenty of efforts within the community to preserve the value of reading, especially targeted towards teenagers. Libraries, book stores and seasonal book fairs are excellent resources for books. Students who don’t have the resources to travel to these locations can always find books at their school’s media center, including LAHS.
Books hold reminders that humans are not limited to certain paths and lives. Creativity rises in every book, especially for serial readers. The importance of books represents the importance of people as a culture, with every thought and theory questioned. The decrease in teenagers’ reading isn’t going to stop unless we find collaborative ways to connect books with their lives. Students can find their love for books with time and patience.
