By: Kenia Peña, Student PR Squad Member

As the back-to-school season approaches, it is natural for parents to become increasingly anxious about their children’s linguistic proficiency. Now more than ever, citizens claim America is in a literacy crisis. U.S. reports show a decline in functional literacy, but as a current Texas high school student, I notice competence and encouragement in the language arts.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 36% of fourth-grade students in the United States are proficient in literacy. Similarly, the National Center for Education Statistics reports that only 57% of adults in the United States have proficient reading and writing skills. When addressing these worrying reports, parents and educators tend to blame teaching methods and technology.

Educators in the United States argue that the decrease in linguistic proficiency is a result of the lack of phonics, a scientific teaching method that connects sounds to letters to help individuals learn how to read. In the state of Texas, however, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to use a phonics curriculum in kindergarten through third grade to ensure all students obtain the necessary early English skills. Goose Creek CISD is no exception, as its educators utilize scientific reading methods.

Many parents believe that their children’s reliance on technology hinders their English abilities. On the contrary, access to technology provides opportunities. GCCISD is a 1:1 district with multiple Apple Distinguished schools, which means the district’s students are provided with iPads to enhance learning. These iPads offer unlimited eBooks provided by our local public libraries. With the simple use of your library card, you can access nearly any book digitally. Furthermore, many of the apps found on these devices offer text-to-speech services, allowing children to see text and hear it simultaneously, thus enhancing reading comprehension.

To address declining reading assessment performance rates, GCCISD has implemented several programs and services to enhance English skills. This includes the newly launched Beanstack app, which serves as a reading tracker.

Despite their attempts, schools and teachers have very little control over building the habit of reading. A love for literature must be cultivated in the household. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) states: “Making reading an enjoyable part of your child’s life starts with incorporating books into your daily routine.” I strongly encourage parents and children to explore the diverse catalog of our local public libraries together.

Students usually do not enjoy assigned books. Children who have a choice of what book they read are more likely to enjoy reading. Though students may appear uninterested in literature, this is likely due to the lack of content variety. For this reason, children should read works of various genres and authors outside of school hours.

Literature is the backbone of our society and fundamental to every scholar, regardless of educational plans. Culturally relevant books are newly published, and classics continue to prove their significance. The American literary crisis can be fought, one book at a time.