In a time when the screens become omnipresent, it is urgent to revalue this key object in the history of human culture, which is irreplaceable, since it feeds thought, introspection and imagination.
On June 15 of each year the Book Day was held in Argentina. In a time when the screens become omnipresent, it is urgent to revalue this key object in the history of human culture, which is irreplaceable, since it feeds thought, introspection and imagination.
Far from being a custom of the past, reading is a deeply human and necessary act. Faced with the accelerated and fragmented rhythm of digital life, the book invites pause, concentration, to meet the interiority itself. Reading is not just deciphering words: it’s building meaning, thinking critically, getting excited.
The celebration has history: it began in 1908 as a “Book Festival” when the awards of a literary contest organized by the National Women’s Council were presented. In 1924 it was officially recognized and since 1941 it is known as the “Book Day.” Although on April 23 the International Book Day is celebrated worldwide, in Argentina we have this own date to highlight its value.
This year, however, the context invites reflection more than the celebration. The results of the latest educational evaluations, both international and national, lit an alarm signal. According to Pisa 2022 tests, the average reading performance among 15 -year -old students fell ten points compared to 2018 in OECD countries. In Argentina, the test data Learn 2024 of students in 5th and 6th secondary reveal that only 58% of the students reach satisfactory levels in the language.
In addition, reading comprehension is in crisis since only 45% of third grade students reach the expected reading levels. This problem is not just a pedagogical issue: it is a period symptom. We live in a culture of immediacy, of constant distraction, of permanent stimulus. Social networks and mobile devices mold new forms of attention, more superficial and less sustained, which directly impacts the ability to read, understand and reflect.
Faced with this panorama, it is urgent to value those who have a key role in reversing this trend: teachers and teachers of all subjects. It is they who day by day hold the bridge between children and books, who face the enormous challenge of teaching to read in depth in a world that pushes the ephemeral.
In this scenario, the challenge should not fall only on language teachers. Teaching to read in depth – to stop, interpret, to connect – is a task that crosses all disciplines. Each subject can become an entrance door to comprehensive and critical reading, if books are used as a tool to contextualize, enrich and resignify the contents.
COFUNDADORA & COOK IN PICKAPPY
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
