Posted by Eric Abraham on May 28, 2001 at 14:40:32 from 199.240.138.81:
In Reply to: Re: Events for youngsters to encourage interest in AR's books posted by Jeremy Kriewaldt on May 27, 2001 at 23:13:31:
Right on, Jeremy! The important thing is to get kids to READ - get them to THINK and DO! However it is done successfully, is immaterial. I prefer something closer to Jeremy's second method, but this may not work with some. If contests and quizzes work, then do it. I think that the objection was to having money involved in the activity. There are so many great books out there that can get minds cooking up adventure and creativity. So much of today's culture is imposed upon us solely as a commercial venture that it seems a good book would be a relief!
An interesting observation; I was reading earlier a note by Dave Thewlis posted on March 22 "Re: USA Readers" - that he had noticed the AR books in the library had been well worn, i.e. read, and he did not know of anyone who had read them. I remember noticing the same in the Junior High library in Oklahoma in the late '40s - they had even been rebound. Someone IS reading these books, probably over and over and not telling. But then, I was, at that time, pretty much into my own world, reading and adventuring in my own mind. I suspect that there are still kids who are doing likewise. Maybe we need to find these kids - in a gentle manner - and let them know they are not alone. Contests and such don't work for them - they didn't for me. EA