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Presenter urges renewed focus on reading, citing Atlantic essay
Summary
A presenter at the event urged a cultural revival of reading, saying children must learn to read for both economic opportunity and societal wellbeing and citing an Atlantic essay by Adam Kirsch as a framing device.
A presenter opened the substantive portion of the event with a call to revive a love of reading, saying that society ‘‘has largely stopped loving reading’’ and that teaching children to read well is essential not only for their economic prospects but for communal happiness. The remarks referenced an Atlantic essay by Adam Kirsch and framed the issue as both cultural and educational.
The presenter said the decline matters for long-term outcomes and individual wellbeing, arguing schools and families must re-emphasize reading for pleasure and skill. ‘‘We have to learn to read, our kids have to learn to read, not just because it is paramount for their economic success later in life, but it's paramount for their individual and their family and our society's happiness to be able to love to read,’’ the presenter said, citing the Atlantic piece as prompting a reconsideration of how the topic is discussed. There was no formal vote or action tied to the remarks in the provided transcript; the presentation followed a lengthy technical setup and livestream troubleshooting period.
