The Readers Bill of Rights

[Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook]

I am guided by Daniel Pennac's Readers Bill of Rights, and I want you to have that option, too.
We have:
1. The Right to Not Read
2. The Right to Skip Pages
3. The Right to Not Finish
4. The Right to Reread
5. The Right To Read Anything
6. The Right to Escapism
7. The Right to Read Anywhere
8. The Right to Browse
9. The Right to Read Out Loud
10. The Right to Not Defend Your Tastes

Aren't they great? Just going over this list brought half-remembered questions flooding back:

1. "Why don't you want to read it? I loved it!"
2. "Ew, how can you read that stuff?"
3. "You're reading it again? Didn't you get it all the first time?"

It also brought back memories:

• Being forced to read and analyse certain novels at school, that I hated.
• The delicious aroma of fresh coffee in a US bookstore where they actually encourage browsing with lots of comfy chairs!
• The discomfort of the hard branch in my girlhood backyard, when I finally pulled my attention away from my book, and remembered I was reading it in a tree.
• Slowly becoming aware of sidelong glances and amused looks when I sat on the floor in an Australian book shop, and did a thorough but uncomfortable browse.
• The slack-jawed, blank-eyed stare of a young listener who was totally engrossed in a book I read aloud.
• The comfort that a great book brought, even when I was sick in bed with flu, and sure I was about to die.
• The pleasure of re-reading a book for the tenth time - knowing what the character will say next, but still laughing.

What about you? Did the Reader's Bill of Rights strike a chord? Do you have a memory prompted by your rights as a reader? How about your students - would these reader rights work in the classroom?

[Marcy Prager]

The right to read aloud struck my chords because as a child, the only way I understood what I was reading was to read aloud. In class, this was not allowed, and I suffered greatly because I wasn't comprehending the material. I outgrew it somehow, but not before the damage was done.

[Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook]

Marcy, that must have left a scar. There are lots of things I did as a teacher by custom, that I now look back on and cringe over, because I understand it was not naughtiness as I'd thought.

What do you think about the Right to Not Read? I prefer curricula where kids can choose their reading material, but does there have to be mandatory books do you think?

[Marcy Prager]

The Right to Not read is not totally in alignment with what I believe to be true. In every classroom in our town, there are core books that children have to read. They are chosen with care and relate to curriculum. There is choice, however, how students can respond to the books. Students can make a slideshow, write a poem, draw a map, whatever will motivate the child. There are wonderful books to hook kids that I have in my classroom, from loads of non-fiction, (which is really appealing these days), good graphic novels, etc. I believe that non-readers will be readers given the choices of books they grow to love. Giving a child the Right to Not read is not a great choice.

[Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook]

I've read blogs by US teachers who don't have core books, so I know that can work. But it seems to me, that if the district or town mandates core material, then giving choices in response can allow kids some ownership.

At home is a different story though. I honestly believe if we want kids to love reading, we should allow them to choose what they read. Or don't read.

[Marcy Prager]

I believe that students should choose what they want to read at home. Lots of parents get upset when their students don't want to read at home. A great choice is sports magazines, science magazines, etc.

[Kelly Farrow]

The right not to finish speaks to me! I used to be so hard-core on myself, never giving myself permission to stop reading, even if I wasn't crazy about a book. Now, though I don't do it often, I do allow myself to stop reading before the end. It's NOT defeat and it's NOT giving up! It's just saying, "There's a TON to read out there; this one hasn't earned its right to take up my time. Let's move on to one that does!"

[Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook]

Kelly, I totally agree. I don't have time to spend reading material that doesn't grab me, hold my interest. Although I know I'm getting way better at choosing books that WILL suit me!