Teachers and other adults too will tell you a lot of things you may argue with eventually – you may well have your own different ideas, and perhaps better ones. But about the importance of learning to write and read, easily and fluently, you will never argue. Such wonderful people will speak to you – to YOU – from the pages. Such adventures you will have through their telling, that you would never otherwise have! And all because the words on the page are not a puzzle but a door to many worlds. To write is delight, to read is to plant the seed of endless excitement. I promise you.
Mary Oliver
7 Comments
Earl
I completely agree! Reading with comprehension and writing with clarity is crucial. I hope that schools emphasize this importance today, but sometimes I wonder. Great impromptu portrait, Monte!
Monte Stevens
Thanks, Earl! I must admit I do not even know what the schools are doing now. I’m aware through my grandson that they no longer teach cursive in school. And now, who knows what writing assignments are being generated by the AI. It has to be frustrating for teachers.
geri oster
Wonderful photograph! Reminds me of myself in our little high school library so many afternoons. Growing up on a farm in rural South Dakota, my schoolteacher mother always made sure we had access to adventures through books and our current events summer newsletters for children. I can’t tell you just how many mysteries I solved with the Happy Hollisters while herding cows along the ditches all summer long in my youth. Thank you for the fond memories, Monte. And yes, I am afraid that children today are missing out on the many joys of quiet discovery between the pages of a book, and the learned skills of composition while writing those dreaded book reports! I still struggle with spelling and grammar, alas, that doesn’t seem to stop me from writing, for that too is a joy. Blessings all.
Monte Stevens
Thank you for sharing your memories of your youth. Reading was not part of my youth.I really didn’t start reading until I got older. In a way, I feel like I may have lost out because of that. I’m reading a book called A Velocity of Being: Letters to A Young Reader by Maria Popova. It is a collection of letters from authors, poets, musicians to children sharing what influence books had on them as children. It’s very much like your comment. Thank you for sharing such a gift!!
I know that both reading and writing on very important to me at this time on my life! Have a wonderful day!
joseph Smith
I’m always trying to read more but each year around this time I realize I’ve only read 15 or so books. I rationalize it sometimes by saying to myself, “yeah, but 3 of them were really big books!” I’m a slow reader as it is and read a lot of nonfiction which seems to make it an even slower read. Nonetheless, I value books and reading and both my daughters have followed in my footsteps which makes me proud.
joseph smith
Oh yeah. Love that a young woman is reading that Kesey classic!
Monte Stevens
I also am a slow reader and read almost all non-fiction so I am learning to be patient with myself. I have heard that rationalization voice say the same thing to me. I value reading and glad I have embraced it as a way to learn, grow and venture into new areas of my life. And, the young girl was definitely in the pages of that book. I wonder which character she was connecting with?