There are so many books to choose from! Photo courtesy of senior Angela Perry. 

Reading is rapidly becoming less valued, and students at San Luis Obispo High School have fallen victim to the world of distractions. Reading is an integral part of education and can expand past that into personal enjoyment. Students of this generation must work to keep books and reading alive. 

“With so many other distractions available, reading is low on many people’s priority lists,” said senior Angela Perry. From 1982 to 2002, there was a 10 percent drop in literacy and reading rates across the United States. This can be largely attributed to the introduction of the internet and smartphones into daily life. Younger generations in particular have grown up with technology. Because of this, social media and search engines such as TikTok, YouTube, and Google have eliminated the need for books as a source of entertainment and information. 

“I think that people definitely don’t consider reading as something fun or relaxing anymore. It’s mostly attributed to school assignments, which makes it appear as more of a burden whereas in the past it was a fun activity,” said Perry. Many students feel overwhelmed by schoolwork and reading and turn to technology as a form of escapism, avoiding reading all together. 

Reading is not entirely obsolete, however. Many still enjoy reading, and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, reading time among Americans rose by 21 percent in the latter half of 2020. Reading is enjoyed for many different reasons; some people love to analyze texts, some people like to explore different genres, and many people just love a good story. 

“I like how each book I read is expressed differently with its own specific diction. It’s cool to observe and compare different authors and genres,” said Perry. 

Keeping reading alive in a society that is plundered by advertisements, social media, and distractions is something that needs conscious attention. Updating English curriculum to feature more relevant and inclusive texts and maintaining funding for public libraries are steps that can be taken to avoid this fate. 

On a smaller scale, students can suggest books to friends and family, donate to neighborhood book boxes, and remind people that reading doesn’t have to be boring!

Sources: Publishers Weekly, National Endowment for the Arts