Let “Freedom Read” All Year Long!

~ Becky Ross Michael

We each have the power to do something about this growing problem. Here are some ideas to get us started!

40 thoughts on “Let “Freedom Read” All Year Long!”

  1. Bravo, Becky! Spread the word–this is important. Just ask any MAGA-star about how their First Amendment Rights are being abused. Too bad many of them do not realize this is a two-way street.

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  2. Honestly? Despite conflicting opinions about what’s acceptable literature for children, no one is being denied their freedom to read. The primary threat to reading in our society is the rising illiteracy rate: a rate that’s been exacerbated by poorly designed reading programs. Recently, NBC did an interview with an elementary school principal from Mississippi who began instituting changes after she discovered only 14% of her 4th graders were reading at grade level. Last year, district-wide, reading proficiency was at 65%. The story is here. Dick, Jane, and Spot are rejoicing! The goal, of course, is 100% proficiency.

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    1. As a former elementary and middle school teacher, I certainly understand the challenges of kids who struggle learning to read. Those children are most apt to read for enjoyment, I believe, if the books speak to them and fill a need they are experiencing in their lives. That seems less apt to happen if a more narrow assortment of books is made available to young readers.

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  3. I truly understand a parents desire to watch over what their children are reading but banning books isn’t the answer. Nothing good comes from it. My sister sent my son a copy of “The Way of the Peaceful Warrior” by Dan Millman. I wasn’t sure about it’s content so I read it first. Loved it, my son loved it and I’ve sent many copies to anyone else that might love it. Parents have stopped being involved. I read to them until they could read to me. It made them better readers. Not all schools are equipped with good teachers. When my son’s third grade teacher said because was spelled BECUZE, I went into full teacher mode even though I only had a high school diploma. The next year, they placed him in a gifted class. My daughter was reading at a 10th grade level in the 4th grade. They called me in because they didn’t know what to do about her. Bored out of her mind. Banning books will never be the answer. Shoreacres has it right. Literacy is the problem. Along with the ability to think for oneself and to discern garbage from quality. I think that includes our law makers. Wonder how many of them read well.

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  4. The thing about books is that they just sit there until someone picks them up. My dad (as it happened) had, my mom would argue, scurrilous taste in literature. He hid “those” books (Tom Jones, Moll Flanders) in his sock drawer with Kraft caramels so I would find them. When I reached 15 Henry Miller moved down several shelves on my dad’s shelves which were in the basement. I didn’t have to read them, but I COULD.

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  7. Thank you for spreading the word, Becky. I find it quite hypocritical that some of the people who profess to support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights when it supports their issues can turn around and ignore it for others.

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  9. The young and old may have problems reading, for different reasons. The young need to learn how, and the elderly may have problems seeing print on the page. Fortunately, print matter spans all generations, which is why libraries are so important for their diversity.

    Reading has always been an escape for me, from family arguments or from feelings of loneliness. But I had the advantages of a home, space, and a family commitment to educational freedom, plus a family of book hoarders. I was lucky to have that, because so many people don’t.

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  15. I’m late to this conversation, Becky, but appreciate you sharing this info. Censorship and book-banning is completely out of control and I disagree with the earlier comment that no one is being denied their freedom to read. Blatantly untrue, but I didn’t want to start a kerfuffle on your site, plus your response was very eloquent. Did you see the news about Scholastic Book Fairs and how they’re “pre-censoring” by offering an option to opt out of diverse books? You’d think Scholastic could/would use its huge platform and power to push back against censorship, but no.

    https://www.themarysue.com/scholastic-hides-diverse-books-at-fairs/

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