The Highlander
Page 23
OPINION
March 2016
Not just a homework assignment
Reading for enjoyment versus reading for an assignment
Adriana Ramirez
Do you like reading? “Ew, no. We’re only forced to read in school.” “You mean those books like ‘The Odyssey’ or ‘The Great Gatsby?’ Never!” “How does reading even help us?” As we grow older, we associate reading with those terrifying 700 page textbooks or old English novels we are forced to read in school. So of course, reading has to be boring and tedious. And without a doubt, we have to keep up with our readings to maintain that perfect GPA; colleges will love that. Our main motivation to do reading assignments is getting an A on the next essay we have to write or that outline we have to complete. In high school, those who want to do well have no other option but to read these textbooks or novels and try to follow along. But in reality, we just end up reading like zombies, zoning out as our minds briefly skim over the text. We end up talking like zombies too, saying “uhh” after we finish a passage, having to read them over and over again because we missed
all the information the first time. Reading is definitely a big part of our lives; yet just like zombies, it is not actually alive. This is because we are reading blindly instead of reading actively. According to the 2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 26 percent of twelfth graders cannot read at the basic reading level. That is, when reading grade-appropriate-texts, these students cannot extract the general meaning or make obvious connections between the text and their own experiences. In other words, they cannot understand what they have read. Another study done by the Department of Justice determined 21 million Americans can’t read at all, 45 million are marginally illiterate, and one-fifth of high school graduates can’t read their diplomas. In addition, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 50 percent of the nation’s unemployed youth, age 16 to 21, are illiterate with virtually no prospects of obtaining good jobs. The benefits of reading are something people need to be aware of. Professors Anne E. Cun-
ningham and Keith E. Stanovich found that reading, in general, improves intellectual capacity and keeps you sharp as you age. Educational experts, Peggy Gisler, Ed.S. and Marge Eberts, Ed.S., found through research that reading can be beneficial in many ways: expanding vocabulary, reducing stress, writing improvements, gaining skills in handling complex ideas, and even just helping teens expand their horizons as they learn more about people and the world. But reading isn’t all school assignments and work; it can also be a popular hobby done outside of school with books, newspapers, or even magazines that may interest one. According to The Natural Center for Education, students who reported having four types of reading materials (books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias) in their homes scored on average, higher on tests than those who reported having fewer reading materials. And no, being on the Internet and reading random posts with a lot of grammar mistakes is not really “reading” because reading tweets from Kim Kardashian or tumblr posts that confuse “your”
ISABEL MITCHELL
Reading can be a relaxing hobby, or a nuisance depending on the viewpoint of the person. with “you’re” will probably give you more stress and confusion than needed or wanted. Yet society bombards us with funny videos on Vine and the life of celebrities that robs our time, so we end up not really doing anything that is beneficial to us. Reading is an important aspect that people may overlook because it is considered a “school” or “nerd” thing. However, reading is more than
that. It helps in every aspects of life: from reading prescriptions to reading mortgage settlements. Without the skill of reading, it is hard to go anywhere in life. Putting it in terms of benefits for student, that test we all have to take to get into a good college (yes, the SAT) requires good reading skills which only arise from reading actively. And as the saying goes, better late than never.
Facetime over face-to-face time Anya Meredith You’re walking down the hall and you see someone walking towards you. Do you smile at them? Pretend they aren’t there? But then you remember that piece of technology you have in your pocket that can solve all your problems-your phone. You pull out your phone and pretend that you’re reading the most important text you’ve ever gotten. With the rise of technology, it seems like people have forgotten to interact with one another. However, this is not only evident in awkward confrontations in the hall. Take dating for example: these days it’s much more common to be asked out on a date by someone “sliding through their DMs” than actually being asked out in person. Or even texting people instead of talking to them in person. I know I am guilty of this. Have you ever texted your mom something even though she’s in the room next door? Or emailed a teacher a question instead of going into their class to talk to them? If yes, then you’re guilty of this too. Is this okay? There seems like there should be consequences, right?
According to John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, “If you use artificial means of connecting as a substitute for physical means of connection, you actually get lonelier,” said Cacioppo. Loneliness can have an effect on stress hormones, immune functions, and cardiovascular functions. “Social isolation has an impact on health comparable to high blood pressure, obesity, lack of exercise, or smoking,” said Cacioppo. Knowing how to be social and to deal with awkward situations is an essential part of life, both physically and mentally. According to Kim Stoltz, the author of the book “Unfriending My Ex: And Other Things I’ll Never Do,” “There’s been an emerging body of research that shows that when you stop having offscreen interaction, you lose empathy. You lose the ability to have genuine reactions to real problems and real things. College students are 40 percent less empathetic than they were 30 years ago, thanks to on-screen interactions that make it easier to say mean things and act before considering the consequences of our actions.” While technology allows people some means of social connection that would have never been possible before, like maintaining long-distance friendships, it is
still slowly ruining the quality of social interaction that we all need as human beings. Because technology is making a clear difference in the quality of social skills and relationships,we have to remember that we do have a choice about how we use our technology. According to “Huffington Post” writer Nile Capello, “In navigating the emerging technological society, it is most important to remember that we are not passive participants -- we have the power, and the right, to opt-out of technology when we wish.” Sometimes people forget that they have the power to talk to someone in person rather than Facetiming them or that we can go out and make friends rather than just “‘friending’” people on Facebook. People seem to have forgotten this and it scares me to think that in the future, people’s social skills could be even more limited than they already are now. Things like awkward confrontations in the hall, dating over social media, and even being afraid to raise your hand in class could be just the beginning. So, put your phone back in your pocket and close your laptop, and embrace the awkward situations, because in the end, it will be worth it.
BROOKE CHANG
“Late start is going to cause a lot of traffic problems, especially for students who drive themselves.” Sofia Tam
Sophomore
“The parking lots are already really crowded, with everyone getting out at the same time it’s going to be almost impossible.” Kurt Castro Junior