Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 6 of 9 · from the scan, no model involved
On Reading
To the editor:
Learning to read is a relatively easy process. Man has been learning to read for centuries, many times with little or no formal Instruction. In this day and age with the intense effort put forth to teach reading, why is it then we’re having trouble getting our young people to achieve proper reading levels? The circumstances in Rappahannock County are indicative of what is happening around the country.
Having been the reading instructor at Rappahannock County High for the past two years, I am aware of the "reading problem” in our county. 1 am reluctant, however, to categorize the problem as ‘‘simply an administrative problem.” Let me qualify this. The problem will not be solved by an administrative decision to opt for Basal Series X over Basal Series Y, nor will it be solved by making contingency plans for a summer school session. These at best are only cursory attempts to solve the real “reading problem.”
Whether a schoolbook is easy or difficult to read does not depend simply on the student’s basic ability or even his motivation. Reading becomes difficult when the visual information it requires is too much for the reader because he has had insufficient prior knowledge or non-visual information. For example, a student confused by a science or history text often does not need better reading ability, but a better understanding of math or history. In other words, we need not only to offer basic reading skills, but basic reading skills in conjunction with stimulating and in-, teresting experiences in life.
Reading is only partially a visual activity. The reader must rely far more on the non-visual information that he already has behind his eyeballs, than on the visual information that comes to him from the printed pages. The language experience factor the child brings to the reading task is the critical factor in determining success in reading.
With these thoughts in mind, the "reading problem” takes on a whole new perspective. Our county has the newest, most up-to-date reading basal series, we have well-trained, competent, dedicated teachers, and we have students who want to learn, at least up to that point where learning becomes
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