Reader's choice

For several years, I have ranted in every forum possible about the Accelerated Reader program which is now taken over the schools in Abilene. In that program, students are allowed to choose only the books that are listed in the program (all are identified by certain colored dots). The program covers only fiction--that means the 3rd graders who used to dash to the dinosaur books can no longer do that.

An even more egregious feature of the program is that after students have read the book, they must take a test (most questions are phrased so that the student can answer with a short answer of one or two words--in other words, fill-in-the blank questions which are the lowest form of learning.) The questions are on a computer dedicated to the program. If the student cannot pass the test, he or she must reread the book and take it over. Points are given for scores on tests and in some schools, points earn special favors or gifts. A trip to McDonald's in a limosine comes to mind. Other little gifts are like those in Cracker Jacks. Teachers have been know to grab books out children's hands saying, "You can't check that out; its not on the accelerated reader list." In some schools, teachers are checked by the principal to see if their students have enough reader points. If not, they are called on the carpet. In a school district down the road, the program is tied to students' reading scores on their report card.

How would you as an adult like to have to take a test after every book you read?
What if your salary depended on it? What if you really loved non-fiction books about dinosaurs, dogs, Texas history, knighthood? And in this program,you had to go to the public library on the sly to check them out.

What a travesty of teaching the enjoyment of reading, of teaching students reader's choice! Not counting the fact that students are learning that competition is everything, even in reading. And to be the best with the most points gets you the most acclaim.

To make the love of reading a lifetime skill, children need to find books that they can't put down--books that they take to bed with a flashlight because they can't bear to stop reading what may be the best book they ever read. Accelerated
Reader turns off all the flashlights with its requirements and its dumbing down tests.

Maybe Nashville never heard of Accelerated Reader...