Assigned summer reading stinks. Parents don’t like forcing their children to read. Teachers don’t like the reported drop in reading skills that occurs when children don’t read during the summer. Librarians don’t like not having all the books that are needed for summer reading. And children don’t like being told they have to read a book when they are not in school.
Here’s an alternative to summer reading. Let’s focus on parents instead of children. Here’s my proposal for a new required summer reading program for adults, one that’s really intended to encourage children to read!
First, all parents must devote one hour of every day between June and September to reading anything that they choose. Imagine telling your child you can’t make dinner yet because you have to finish the latest John Grisham book. Or saying you can’t fold the laundry because you have to read. Wouldn’t you like to tell your boss you can’t come in today because you have to read? Better yet saying you can’t be the driver of the family taxi today, because you must do your required reading.
Second, all parents must do their required reading somewhere comfortable. It can’t be done while waiting in the doctor’s office or on line at the DMV. It must be done in a hammock, at the beach, or while floating on a raft in the pool. Reading under a shady tree is also permissible.
Third, I require that there be an economic element to required reading. Parents must do their required reading while drinking something cold and have plenty of snacks. Imagine how required reading could stimulate the economy! Think grants to buy ice cream, soda, and chips only to be eaten while reading.
Fourth, there will be required attire for reading — shorts, tee shirts, and sandals — no ties or jackets. Grants will also be available to purchase proper summer reading attire.
Finally I would do away with requiring children to do all sorts of tangentially related projects that demonstrate their lack of understanding of the book they unwillingly read. I’d replace it with this requirement: Take your children out to dinner, at least once a week, and talk about nothing but what you’ve been reading for at least one hour.
Once summer ends and children return to school the following things would occur: children would want to be able to read just like their parents; they would have a new found appreciation of well planned meals, clean laundry, and timely taxi service; parents would look forward to reading next summer; and our children would be looking forward to the day when they would be required to read in the summer just like Mom and Dad!