A literate generation?

A literate generation?: Literacy and the literary - doesn't just apply to young ... (1066 words)
by MartynColebrook - written on 06.05.02 (Very useful, 30 readings)
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It is certainly a dispiriting sign when we have to question whether we are members of a literate generation and, as a consequence, whether literature and reading still have a prominent and valued place in our society. From a personal perspective I was lucky to be brought up in a household where there was a great deal of emphasis and tradition placed on the necessity and importance of reading and writing, two features of my life that are now irreplaceable and have proved to be invaluable. What causes me the most anguish is to hear people uttering the claim that they 'don't bother with reading the book when there's a film of it to be watched' or to start ...

Parents and schools MUST unite. (1525 words)
by Vicki H - written on 02.09.01 (Very useful, 70 readings)
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I write this opinion from both the point of view of a parent and a teacher. I studied English at degree level and now co-ordinate the subject within a school, my specialism is in the primary age range. The National Literacy Strategy and the introduction of the Literacy Hour have gone a long way to improve literacy standards in primary school children. The good news is that the scheme is now to be extended to Key Stage 3 so that the success can be built upon. Children are now taking part in clearly structured literacy lessons on a daily basis, this can only be a good thing. I believe that schools are really making huge leaps forward in this area although it ...

A literate generation?: Of Smarties, Slovakia and Sensible Habits (1607 words)
by zoe_page_1 - written on 31.08.01 (Very useful, 136 readings)
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A few months ago I had my first glimpse of what it must be like to be unable to read when I was travelling around Eastern Europe alone. It was fun but at times it began to bug me that I couldn’t understand even the simplest signs, and that I had no one to be worried with. Not only were they in Slovakian or Hungarian or whatever, but they were only in that. In Vienna, for example, things are often explained in English, French and Italian as well as German, but not here. It was pretty scary. I am one of those people who loves to read. I read all the time, and I don’t restrict myself to books. In fact one of the things I like reading most of all, and I ...