With the advancement of technology as well as Covid-19, American students are not at the right reading level. A lack of literacy comprehension has negatively impacted students.
This may seem like a recent event, but this crisis has been an issue for multiple years. The flawed education system, teacher shortage, teaching over COVID-19, and other issues, have all had a negative impact on students and staff.
Some adults are arguing about who is at fault for students not being at the proper reading standards: parents or the educational system?
Some people claim that parents have become uninvolved in their children’s education, which has caused children to not be up to standards. Parents say that it is the school’s job to teach kids these skills, and are surprised when their students are not at grade level.
TikTok user @qbthedon, who is a teacher, has created posts that bring awareness to this issue. These posts have gone viral. He claims that schools in America pass students, even if they haven’t met the requirements to move on to the next year. This is a serious issue that causes students to not try in school since they aren’t afraid of being held back.
Now, let us talk about the effects a lower reading level can have later on in life.
Being illiterate or having low literacy skills can limit the opportunities students have later down the road. Although there are some jobs that don’t heavily rely on literacy skills, jobs that do need these skills will be less likely to hire adults with elementary school reading levels. Also, pursuing a job that requires a college degree will likely be a struggle. Studies show that reading proficiency plays an influence on whether a student might drop out.
What can the community do to improve this issue? Citizens can fight to fix issues in the educational system to improve the situations of students and teachers. Also, getting more involved with the youth helps build these important skills, so put down your phone, and go read!
