How Long Can a Democracy Or Even a Market Place Last Without a Literate Public? Oh Yes, And What About the Arts?

A recent report released by the National Endowment for the Arts finds that "an increasing number of adult Americans were not even reading one book a year." Further bad news: 72% of high school graduates were "deemed by their employers as 'deficient' in writing."

NEA chairman Dana Gioia emphasizes that 9-year olds read well, indicating that elementary grade educators are succeeding; while 17-year olds who "never or hardly ever" read for pleasure has doubled, to 19%, with a consequent diminishing of their comprehension scores. The cause: a lack of "counterbalancing the electronic culture" kids enter after age 9.

The report emphasizes that "literary readers" are more likely to exercise, visit art museums, keep up with current events, vote in presidential elections and perform volunteer work, demonstrating that reading "creates people who are more active....(and that) People who don't read, who spend most of their time watching television or on the Internet, or playing video games, seem to be significantly more passive. Finally, the report projects that at a time not so far off, "The majority of young Americans will not realize their individual, economic or social potential."

The above implied commentary quoted liberally from an article in the Los Angeles Times written by Hillel Italie of the Associated Press called, "Writing's on the wall, but who will read it?"

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