Literacy standards rose throughout much of the past decade but have plateaued in recent years, with almost a fifth of pupils failing to reach expected levels. Now, in a digital age in which many children shun books, and with huge spending cuts due to hit the education sector, how can we hope to change this?
That was the question a New Statesman panel examined this morning at a debate held in association with the National Literacy Trust and Starbucks. The panel featured Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, Anita Wright, a primary school head teacher, the author Polly Courtney and Nicholas Lezard, a literary critic for the Guardian, who also, of course, writes the Down and Out in London column for the New Statesman.
Douglas began the debate by reminding us that poor literacy levels are directly linked to higher inequality, lower health standards and social immobility. He asked what could be done to support families in the home, where children typically first encounter books.
Responding to Douglas, Anita Wright pointed out that literacy statistics disguise the fact that growing numbers of children have English as their second language. It is a mistake to assume that children failing to reach the expected standard in English are “illiterate”.
Polly Courtney expressed her concern that the coming cuts would lead many public libraries to close, leaving many children without ready access to books (a recent study found that the average household has just six books).
Concluding the first half of the debate, Lezard suggested that the recent plateau in literacy levels should be regarded as a “success”, given the “enormous pressures” against reading in a digital age. He argued that the popularity of social networking had damaged literacy, but expressed cautious hope that the iPad could spark a renaissance in reading.
A poll of the floor found an even split between those who feared for the future of literacy and those who were cautiously optimistic. One questioner noted that, for boys in particular, there were three key factors that mitigate against reading. First, the fear that they might not “get” the text; second, the belief that reading remains an “effeminate” activity; and finally, that, in an age of social networking, reading remains a solitary activity.
With this in mind, perhaps we should, as Lezard suggested, be grateful that we are managing to stand still.
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