The teaching of reading, some considerations

During the past six years as a "General Subjects Teacher" in a Provincial Technical High School with a roll of 700 plus I have observed with misgiving the apparent marked lack of reading ability displayed by the pupils. I have felt continually frustrated in my attempts to teach various subjects by the fact that a preponderance of the pupils are poor readers. Furthermore a considerable proportion of pupils openly resented opportunities to avail themselves of a free choice of reading matter during any silent periods offered to them. Many were content to turn over pages of books or magazines and frequently gave pictures only the most cursory scrutiny.