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# 2 Reading enhances other areas of learning. Should children read newspapers?

As said by critics, “Reading is a way for me to expand my mind, open my eyes and fill up my soul” Growing years of association with schools have told me one thing: that reading is something most children or students do not enjoy. I was one of them. I remember associating reading a novel to being wealthy and rich. As a child books that I had were only school books, and instructions from my father were loud and clear that school studies never get over and reading any other book was a mere waste of time, which a middle-class child cannot afford to do, especially in India.

My fondness for books started when I read “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë in my first year of college life. I was so much into the book that I actually know many lines by heart even now. Then, The Paradise Lost by Milton, just hit the right chord, then Antigone, then Odyssey and then Samuel Beckett's “Waiting for Godot”. The vast area I covered was from the 16 th  century to the modern age, but that hardly matters; it was the books and reading which fascinated me. I realised reading books other than textbooks is not a waste of time any more.

As reading is now getting more complicated, to relax....

I read the Newspaper and I see so much news, but should the kids read the newspaper? was an immediate question that came from a student of grade 5. Recently, due to a criminal act in a school, the whole issue of Safety and Security was in the news. So, should the children be exposed to such news?

Years of interacting with the school children have made me realise that rules are made to be broken. So I decided to work in collaboration with students to drive the idea of reading the Newspaper. I went and asked if they think we should read the newspaper, and why? The answers were not only astonishing but also a pleasant surprise and opened up many areas of lacuna that I have as a professional teacher. Many of them were well versed with many news in the paper and were willing to get into discussion, clearly showing they were reading. I realised my trust quotient needs to grow.

The basic thoughts that came up through the discussion clearly state a few facts like adding vocabulary, knowing more about the world, creating awareness, be prepared for the disaster, to stay in touch with community and events. Gaining knowledge and information about society. Develops reading skills. Visuals help to interpret the news better. It connects us to reality and move away from the imaginative world of novels and fairy tales.
What intrigued me most was the recognition of the structured writing format and connecting to report format of text form done in classroom. The other was the biases and the propaganda of the advertisements and its impact on society. Can there be no newspapers without advertisements?

So I guess reading is reading when it comes to expression and connection; it can be any literary piece.

As stated by Maya Angelou any book or anything which forms the habit of reading and helps to recognise that reading is a need, is good for all....

Embracing this mindset turns life itself into a classroom—one where the final bell never rings, and every experience, big or small, becomes an invitation to grow....