MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Michael Gove: Children should read 50 books a year

Worldwalker · 03-25-2011, 10:52 PM

My first reaction to "children should read 50 books a year" was "why limit them to so few?"

I remember when I was old enough to get my "adult" library card (I believe I was 8) and I could take out all the books I wanted, not just four like the little kids. I piled up an armload I couldn't see over when I stumbled out to Dad's car with it. I did that every week. I could read a typical kid's book in an hour or less; I was going through 10 a week with no trouble. And that's not counting what I got from the school library, and what I had of my own, and my parents' books.

But you can't force kids to enjoy reading. I read because my parents read. And I still do. If you want to sit down around here, step 1: move the books.

03-25-2011, 10:52 PM	#10
Worldwalker Curmudgeon Posts: 3,085 Karma: 722357 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: PRS-505	My first reaction to "children should read 50 books a year" was "why limit them to so few?" I remember when I was old enough to get my "adult" library card (I believe I was 8) and I could take out all the books I wanted, not just four like the little kids. I piled up an armload I couldn't see over when I stumbled out to Dad's car with it. I did that every week. I could read a typical kid's book in an hour or less; I was going through 10 a week with no trouble. And that's not counting what I got from the school library, and what I had of my own, and my parents' books. But you can't force kids to enjoy reading. I read because my parents read. And I still do. If you want to sit down around here, step 1: move the books.