It used to be cause for celebration to see the little ones on their way to school each September. Another school year had begun. When adults saw the children, they took special pleasure knowing that a new group of young Americans was being raised. They would learn essential skills like math, reading, and writing. They would gain crucial knowledge of the world through geography, social studies, and history.
Now when you see the small ones headed for class, you can’t help but worry that they will not be learning basic skills. You question whether their minds will be filled instead with confusion on even the most basic issues. Instead of opening worlds of wonder to their students, you worry that some educators are intent on opening worlds of debauchery and depression.
Basic skills are crucial for the future of democracy. A democratic nation needs voters who read, and not just a little here and there. They need to have learned in school the joy of knowledge acquired through the written word. They need to read and comprehend articles as well as books. One measure of success in creating this kind of reader is to ask if they read on their own just for the fun of it. According to Pew Research, in 2020, only 17% of 13-year-olds read for fun almost every day…
