Students should read more

One time I spent my entire Christmas break doing almost nothing except reading. I ended up reading 11 books in 8 days during my break from school. Many students and people don't read that much, especially with all of the technology in the world today. Some people don't like to read all of the time and think books are boring. Other people love to read and think that it is a wonderful way to utilize their time. Especially since Airport has such a great media center and specialists, students should take advantage. Students should read more in school and in general because it would help them later in life; there are many benefits to reading.

One reason people should read more is that reading can help improve language skills in people and can improve people's knowledge of the world. A study done by reading pioneer Keith Stanvich showed that avid readers have around a 50% larger vocabulary and 50% more fact-based knowledge than people who don't read.

It has also been found that reading can reduce stress levels in people. According to statistics provided by the National Reading Campaign, reading as little 6 minutes can reduce stress by 60%, slow a person’s heart beat, ease muscle tension, and alter a person's state of mind.

Reading can also help people live longer. According to the University of Michigan's Health and Retirement Study, elders who read for as little as 30 minutes a day were living an average of two years longer than elders who didn't read.

Many people say that reading is a waste of time, or say ridiculous things like it can cause damage to your eyes. Some people also think that fiction promotes false ideas in youth. Some radicals go so far as to say that knowing how to read is not necessarily a skill that a person needs to be a functional member of society anymore. Even though people make these arguments, the counterarguments are more compelling. Studies show that reading can help improve language skills and intelligence. Reading is proven to improve help and reading can only cause eye strain if a person is reading for an extensive amount of time and it cannot cause major or long-term eye damage. Reading fiction helps a person to have a developed imagination rather than spreading false ideas. Reading is also a necessary skill that everyone needs and should have because there won't always be pictures and other things in society for people who cannot read.

Despite compelling evidence on the benefits of reading, which students acknowledge, opinion is at Airport is nonetheless divided about its enjoyment.

Campbell G., a sophomore, said that reading is one of his favorite pastimes. He said, “I do believe that people should read more...Students should read more and it helps increase their vocabulary and helps them to be smarter people.”

Alexi S., a freshman, said that she doesn't necessarily like to read because she isn't that good at focusing or comprehending books, but she does believe students should read more. She said, “When I was in 7th grade and [her English class] took the STAR test, I was reading on a 5th grade level and so my ELA teacher told me to read this book every night before bed so I did and when I retook the STAR test, I was reading at a 9th grade level so I do think it helps with reading comprehension skills.”

Ethan J., another freshman, said he does read a good bit. He said, “I absolutely believe that reading is important for a student. As a form of entertainment, I find it to be the most mentally stimulating and it's needless to say that reading is a very good way to get information.”

I do believe that people of all ages should read. Reading is an important life skill that improves other important skills that a person needs and it can improve someone’s health and make life less stressful for people. In addition to those reasons, reading can also take your mind to so many different worlds depending on what is being read. Reading is a great way to spend one’s time and there are so many books that there is bound to be a book that anyone can enjoy. Everyone should go out and read a book right now and hopefully it will be a benefit in the long run.

Some people also gave their Top 3 Favorite Books. Campbell said his top 3 were Inheritance, The Inheritance Cycle, The Blood of Olympus, and The Crowns Game. Ethan said his were The Hunger Games, The Ethan I Once Was, and Tales of Terror. Mrs Rasmussen, an English teacher and Airport’s journalism teacher, said her top three were 1984, The Great Gatsby, and Cat’s Cradle. My personal favorites are The Last Olympian, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Pride and Prejudice.

We have a great Media Center here at Airport High School. Be sure to take advantage.