🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <ks6qavk2dcr1srvb9k87nul219ej0t8l1a@4ax.com>,
toto  <scarecrow@wicked.witch> wrote:
>On Mon, 28 Apr 2003 04:41:57 GMT, pwcca <pwcca@ezee.com.au> wrote:

>>Further to my earlier posting, and subsequent to my more in depth
>>academic readings, I continue to be interested in establishing a
>>discussion about boy's literacy. Considering some of the reading I have
>>done on multiple intelligences, learning modes/styles and hemispheric
>>dominance, the question remains to be asked by researchers whether boys
>>are biologically disinclined (generally) to pursue a formal reading
>>habit. Yes, they can read, and a lot can read well - but the case
>>remains that the majority of boys are not novel/book readers. 

>Do you have any statistics that back up this assertion?

>>To their detriment (and it is an unfair supposition), this disinclination to read
>>books and novels is perceived as a dislike or disinterest in reading. I
>>propose boys feel reading must have a purpose, or it must engage them.
>>Hence, the reading of comic books is prolific, 

I never had much interest in reading novels.  Reading
should be for learning or pleasure.  There are a few novels
I find reasonable reading, but most I find utterly boring,
and even disgusting.  Much of "literature" is not very
thinly disguised propaganda.

How many children are reading at least history or biography?
Or more to the point, mathematics and science, and I do not
mean the "kid stuff" for illiterates.

>Why would novels not engage them when comic books do?  There are 
>plenty of stories with action in novels.  Not all novels are *girl
>stories.*   What about science fiction?

Social science fiction or science science fiction?  The
latter requires a fair understanding of science, beyond
what most of the English teachers can muster.

>Literature must engage girl's interests too or they won't want to read
>it either. This gender distinction seems odd to me.

>>and a boy may not have a
>>difficulty reading science or maths text books, but does not see the
>>point of reading a Literature text that may bore him. Any discussion is
>>welcome.

Fine.  That person can understand that wishful thinking
does not make something so, and will not fall prey to
the politicians who promise everything, but have no way
of delivering any of it.  King Canute could not stop the
tide, and nobody can make 6 billion people reasonably
well off on this planet at this time, and possibly never.
-- 
This address is for information only.  I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Deptartment of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@stat.purdue.edu         Phone: (765)494-6054   FAX: (765)494-0558