A strong body of research suggests they will continue to fall behind as they move further into their schooling. Return to Top of Page S ocietal Costs To be sure, reading problems cause incalculable suffering for the individual. But they also have a tremendous impact on society as a whole. These dismal statistics are causing a rising tide of concern among educators and the public. Nearly 70 percent of teachers surveyed in 1994 said reading was the most important skill for children to learn, according to a poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the American Federation of Teachers and the Chrysler Corporation.
Parents also understand the importance of teaching reading to their children.
A 1996 survey by the National Association of State Boards of Education and Scholastic Inc. found that 93 percent of parents said reading was critically important to their child's future success. Pollster Hart showed that students do not place the same value on reading skills as do their parents or teachers. Only 34 percent ranked reading skills as most important. They ranked reading third behind math and computers. Hart's 1993 poll of students also showed dramatic declines in student reading activity from ages nine to 17.