I was reading the Black Journal of Higher Education from last week and took a keen interest in the stat of the week. According to the U.S. Census Bureau:
50.5% Percentage of all white 4-year-olds who are read to on a daily basis.
20.5% Percentage of all black 4-year-olds who are read to on a daily basis.
The larger question is why such a large gap, which can be attributed to a number of things, most notably mass media and education. The following topic reminds me of a research paper and presentation I did in graduate school. Here are some of the findings.
Using the social learning theory model, research findings suggested that mass media influences young people's attitudes and behaviors. In fact, multiple media usage (computers, phones, television) coupled with young people's ability to find the time for them negatively impacts the state of their academics.
One may be thinking, what does this have to do with a four year old? Everything! Because one could argue that the four year old and their parent (s) who falls in the 20.5% range probably watches more television in addition to hearing and seeing way more than an average four to five year old is suppose too. The following translates into large educational gaps.
The solution? Well, I'm not the expert but a good friend (what up LH) from high school's father wrote a book titled “It all starts at Home.” And I agree. While many us are able to make it without living or growing up by this ideal, there are still some who don't and they produce children who intern produce more children who eventually slip through the cracks as well.
I'm not saying you have to read to your child everyday but the internet, television, or radio shouldn't be a substitute guide for how a child is to live their life.
Ni-Eric, your blog today "Read (to) Me!" was very interesting and very much on point. We have a 6 year old daughter a 2 year old son. We very diligently and deliberately read to my daughter since she was born and at the age of 3 she was reading herself. Her reading and imagination skills are off the charts. I also have to attribute some of that to genetics (from my parents and in laws). The amazing thing is my daughter is helping supplement us teaching our son. Now, as I type these words, I am also very aware of how blessed we are to be in such a positive situation. We all know there are others in flipped situations were negativity is proliferated. Closing the "the reading gap" is essential to the uplift our community because the "reading gap" is quickly becoming the "technology divide".
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G. Russell Jones III
I definitely agree that the media is a big influence in how our children are raised morally and educationally, but it is not the only thing. You also have to look at the child's environment. In these rough ecomonic times and even before, some parents, especially the younger, low income parents only have the mindset of survival. They don't have a care about education, therefore they don't attempt to educate their children unless it is about counting money. I work in a school and see this everyday. It is a sad reality. As educators, we have to educate the parents to educate their children so that the teachers can do what they are supposed to do. Do I think with this education cycle the "reading gap" will close? Not over night, but I do think that it will tighten and over time could possibly close. We just all have to work together, parents and educators and the children to change beliefs and then change behaviors.
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