From an article by by Larry Greider

Click to advance>Click to advance>

"Reading is to the mind

what exercise is

to the body"

Sir

Richard

Steele.

Sadly, more and more people today are giving Sadly, more and more people today are giving up the printed word in favor of being up the printed word in favor of being entertained and informed by the talking head entertained and informed by the talking head and crystal clear imagery of the ever-larger TV and crystal clear imagery of the ever-larger TV set that sits as a throne in the center of their set that sits as a throne in the center of their living space.living space.

““Reading Reading is a basic is a basic

tool in tool in the living the living of a good of a good

life.”life.”

Mortime

r J. AdlerA recent news story noted that more A recent news story noted that more and more infants are being subjected and more infants are being subjected to TV programming, perhaps as a to TV programming, perhaps as a babysitter.babysitter.

““To read is to fly: To read is to fly: it is to soar to a it is to soar to a point of vantage point of vantage

which gives a which gives a view over wide view over wide

terrains of history, terrains of history, human variety, human variety, ideas, shared ideas, shared

experience and experience and the fruits of many the fruits of many

inquiries.”inquiries.”

A C A C

GraylinGraylin

gg

More than two hours of TV time per day More than two hours of TV time per day are now a part of infant development, are now a part of infant development, generating physiological and mental generating physiological and mental problems that are of growing concern problems that are of growing concern among experts.among experts.

““A capacity A capacity and taste for and taste for

reading reading gives access gives access to whatever to whatever has already has already

been been discovered discovered by others.”by others.”

Abraha

m

Lincoln

At the very least, young people At the very least, young people will learn how to process will learn how to process information in a much different information in a much different way than those of other way than those of other generations. generations.

““To read a To read a writer is for writer is for

me not me not merely to get merely to get

an idea of an idea of what he says, what he says, but to go off but to go off with him and with him and travel in his travel in his company.”company.”

Andre

Gide

Reading encourages thinking, Reading encourages thinking, reflecting and the cultivation of reflecting and the cultivation of truth, but image-driven cultures tend truth, but image-driven cultures tend toward subjectivism, superstition, toward subjectivism, superstition, hedonism and propaganda.hedonism and propaganda.

““The things I The things I want to want to

know are in know are in books; my books; my

best friend is best friend is the man the man

who'll get who'll get me a book I me a book I ain't read.” ain't read.”

Dr. Jane Healy cautions, "Too much television—Dr. Jane Healy cautions, "Too much television—particularly at ages critical for language particularly at ages critical for language development and manipulative play—can impinge development and manipulative play—can impinge negatively on young minds in several different negatively on young minds in several different ways including the following:"Higher levels of ways including the following:"Higher levels of television viewing correlate with lowered academic television viewing correlate with lowered academic performance, especially reading scores. performance, especially reading scores.

Abraha

m

Lincoln

““If you If you can read can read

this, this, thank a thank a

teacher.”teacher.”

Anonym

ous

teacher

This may be because television This may be because television substitutes for reading practice, substitutes for reading practice, partially because the compellingly partially because the compellingly visual nature of the stimulus visual nature of the stimulus blocks development of left-blocks development of left-hemisphere language circuitry. hemisphere language circuitry.

““The habit of The habit of reading is reading is the only the only

enjoyment in enjoyment in which there which there is no alloy; it is no alloy; it lasts when lasts when

all other all other pleasures pleasures

fade.” fade.”

Anthony

Trollope

A young brain manipulated by jazzy visual A young brain manipulated by jazzy visual effects cannot divide attention to listen effects cannot divide attention to listen carefully to language. Moreover, the ‘two-carefully to language. Moreover, the ‘two-minute mind' easily becomes impatient with minute mind' easily becomes impatient with any material requiring depth of processing"any material requiring depth of processing"

““The ability The ability to read to read awoke awoke

inside me inside me some long some long dormant dormant

craving to craving to be mentally be mentally

alive.” alive.”

Autobiogr

aphy of

Malcolm

X, 1964

Neil Postman, media critic and author of some Neil Postman, media critic and author of some great books, pointed out the ways that reading great books, pointed out the ways that reading teaches us to think in a logically connected way. teaches us to think in a logically connected way. It cultivates a sustained attention span. Readers It cultivates a sustained attention span. Readers learn to think in terms of abstract ideas, objective learn to think in terms of abstract ideas, objective truth and sustained reflection. truth and sustained reflection.

““You're the You're the same today same today as you'll be as you'll be in five years in five years except for except for the people the people you meet you meet and the and the

books you books you read.”read.”

Charlie

"Tremen

dous"

Jones

When this is replaced with graphic imagery, like When this is replaced with graphic imagery, like television (especially commercials) and movies, there is television (especially commercials) and movies, there is a tendency toward shorter attention spans and a a tendency toward shorter attention spans and a purely emotional response to what is offered. Once purely emotional response to what is offered. Once addicted to graphical stimulation, there is an addicted to graphical stimulation, there is an increased demand for constant, entertaining increased demand for constant, entertaining stimulation that can hinder the capacity for delayed stimulation that can hinder the capacity for delayed gratification.gratification.

““Reading Reading without without

reflecting is reflecting is like eating like eating

without without digesting.” digesting.”

Edmund

Burke If you want to prepare yourself for great If you want to prepare yourself for great achievement and have more to contribute, try achievement and have more to contribute, try reading more books. Pick up some of the great reading more books. Pick up some of the great classics and search for well- researched material classics and search for well- researched material that can help you grow.that can help you grow.

““No matter No matter how busy how busy you may you may

think you are, think you are, you must find you must find

time for time for reading, or reading, or surrender surrender yourself to yourself to self-chosen self-chosen ignorance.”ignorance.”

 Confuci

us

The piano instrumental piece that The piano instrumental piece that has been playing from slide one is has been playing from slide one is

a movie theme called A a movie theme called A BEAUTIFUL MIND by James BEAUTIFUL MIND by James Horrner and Jim Brickman.Horrner and Jim Brickman.