Kelly Gallagher's "Readicide"

I can’t remember the last time I read anything for pleasure over studious instruction.  Kelly Gallagher's "Readicide" speaks out about an industrialized, counterproductive teaching methods that are unfortunate enough to be commonplace. The death of students’ desire to read of their own volition is a serious issue. It must not be perpetuated.

At the start, this book highlights major issues and pitfalls of reading in the educational environment; the struggle begins with the students’ association with “assigned reading” without any opportunity nor emphasis on their own topic interests and relevancy. Essay writing is often much the same way, but it doesn’t have to be. The disassociation and disinterest in reading and writing revolve upon an institutionalized approach to instruction where “nothing is valued beyond the material.”   

When I was a young child I was often given books that I was told “would be interesting and worth it in your future so read them now.” As a result, I had a habit of pushing away such books and readings as I had been deprived of the opportunity to discover those readings for myself and determine their personal value to myself. Later in my years I did end up going back to those old readings and books, but not out of interest nor for pleasure, but out of a feeling of obligation.

This “obligation” will eventually drain the fun and enjoyment out of reading for these students and as long as there is a lack of value being placed on the students’ interests, reading will become like a chore and an obstacle rather than a sought-after challenge or hobby. Kelly Gallagher's "Readicide" recognizes the endangerment that this issue causes and how it will be detrimental to the skillsets of young students and readers as reading, these days, is no longer optional but necessary in everyday life and as such should be preserved as an enjoyable activity rather than an obstacle that induces frustration in the future.