PARENTAL NEGLECT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1932, Page 19

PARENTAL NEGLECT

CHILDREN AND BOOKS

Of the statistics about books and reading, especially . among the young, which the librarians in congress at Bournemouth havo been bringing forward, some are encouraging, and-others aro depressing, remarks the London "Times."

It is pleasant to be told authoritatively of the perennial popularity. of "Alice," "Treasure Island," and other classics, and to learn that there are plenty of children who read well and widely; but it is saddening to hear of the extent to which a practical "illiteracy" is declared to prevail in a population commonly assumed to be exempt by its, schooling from that reproach. The fact is—and it is hero that the librarians' claim to be part of the educational machine is most fully justified —that reading has become not a whit easier than of old; for some: reasons, perhaps it is actually more difficult.' .

Such a welter of print is there itow in the world that it is quite possible for the mentally inert to>. grow into great pevusevs of print without ever perusing anything worth while.' That, at least, is the' complaint of. one of the librarians,, ancl there are signs that in the future librarians will have to rer sist more and more the pretensions of a multitude of books to places on their shelves. So far from-being the distillation of a choice spirit, or anything approaching it, many a book in these days represents nothing but the writer's desire to earn ,a livelihood— a" laudable ambition enough, but not in itself a passport to a library, whether public or private. : .- ~ •Rather depressing, again, are .the. figures given, of the numbers of* children who possess or do not possess books of their own; In any - given number, of children -it seems that there is a dismal, residue who are without; any kind .of property .in books; while the majority .have all too few. Here the deficiency must be ,set down, to parental neglect. .Good books were never so cheap, and quite a small diversion of pocket money from less 'worthy objects to book: buying would set up many a child with a delightful bookcase of his own. It is a point which .librarians' and teachers, no doubt; do what they can to; bring home.to; parents. Oth'ewise that often-heard cry ia education, "Equal' chances • for all," can lead ■to nothing but disappointment if parents suppose that \ ;no. effort on 'their part is required. In the long run the best scholars, the best fitted for the responsibilities and prizes of life will come from, homes where good reading is one of the regular family habits. The difficulty may sometimes be what to choose; but parents who mean well by their children are sur" -to -find' sympathetic advisers in. their local librarians. ... .'.- .. ~".. ...' ...