2020 was a year of serious disorder; It was when the unforgettable Coronavirus pandemic started to spread rapidly. The pandemic forced many to stay home, and schools had to convert to online learning. As a result of this shift, academics were no longer the biggest thing on students’ minds. According to the Minnesota Department of Education, only 55.1% of students at Cannon Falls High School met the standards of reading in 2021. In May 2023, the US government officially marked the end of the Coronavirus pandemic, allowing many things to fully go back to normal. However, reading skills never went back to how they were before throughout the country. Overall, reading skills are continuing to decrease to the point where it’s becoming a major issue. There needs to be a change soon, to prevent the continuous decline of an ability that dates back thousands of years. Test scores from previous years reveal that the decline in reading is still ongoing.

Reading is a fundamental skill for education, and many students in the United States are behind on this skill. The Nation’s Report Card is a national mandatory assessment that representative 4th and 8th-graders take each year. Although not every stude

nt takes it, it gives a good idea of what is happening. In the percentile of 0 to 500, the reading standard for 8th graders in 2024 was in the 258th percentile. This is lower than 2019’s percentile, which was 263. In Cannon Falls Schools, this is no exception. A majority of the Cannon Falls High School and Middle School staff were surveyed, and 83.3% noticed a decline in reading. Mrs. Otto, a Language Arts Middle School teacher, was among those teachers who noticed the decline. “There has definitely been a decline in reading. More so writing than reading, but still a decline.” Having a decline in reading skills is a domino effect. It will cause a chain reaction, leaving more damage than expected.

Although reading is not needed to survive, it builds up other skills, such as grammar and writing, which allow past information to be preserved and translated. A notable university that supports the need for reading is Merrimack College. They point out that reading helps students gain knowledge, speaking and writing skills, concentration, critical thinking skills, and more. Most, if not all, issues high schools face with their students are aspects of reading. If reading declines, so do these other skills, like grammar and attention spans. Not only does a decline in reading impact skills, but it also affects authors. Jacqueline West is a children’s author from Red Wing, Minnesota, who has notably published works including The Books of Elsewhere and The Collectors. West mentions in an interview why a decline in reading affects authors, too. “If schools and public libraries are struggling, that has real ripple effects among children’s authors, because it means fewer books are circulating, fewer authors are visiting schools, there’s less excitement about new books, less word-of-mouth…and in the end, fewer books will get published.” A lack of reading affects both children’s mindsets and the publishing industry. The distinct decline in reading started due to the pandemic, with learning being a lower priority, but it has continued to decline for another reason: Technology. 

Technology has improved significantly over the years, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. Improved technology tends to lead to more distractions for young people.  A research letter published by JAMA Pediatrics, Adolescent Smartphone Use During School Hours, was an analysis of a research study conducted by specialists based on how often students are on their phones. They stated that on average, 13 to 18-year-old teenagers are on their phones 8.5 hours daily. Phones distract students from engaging in other activities, including reading. Mrs. Otto also agrees with this theory. “My biggest thing is that I do think it is attributed to technology. Social media, gaming, and short attention spans make reading not as big as it used to be.” Whilst agreeing with technology playing a role, Jacqueline West does point out another factor that may affect the decline. “Most students get access to books through their school or classroom libraries. When districts cut their library budgets…kids are exposed to fewer books and get fewer chances to read them.” In general, it’s not the teacher’s fault that students are getting distracted or struggling more academically; it’s technology. Technology isn’t going away, but that doesn’t mean reading has to continue declining. There are a lot of ways people can incorporate reading into their daily lives more frequently.

Reading shouldn’t be seen as a punishment or homework. It can be really fun, as long as students can find the right book or genre. For example, a student may not be interested in reading romance novels, but find they really enjoy reading fantasy books. Another example is if they really loved a film adapted from a book, and want to read the book itself. It may take a few trials, but everyone can explore to find out what they like. As stated by 10 Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading in Students, another way to incorporate reading is by forming book clubs with friends or listening to audiobooks. Book clubs allow students to get recommendations and talk with others about the books they’re reading. Audio books have become increasingly popular, as well as ebooks. Audio books are books that are spoken, while ebooks are online books. These options can be helpful for those who may struggle with dyslexia or those who would prefer not to carry a physical book. Making reading more enjoyable makes students read more. 

Reading used to be a common occurrence for students. When the Coronavirus pandemic hit, however, it stopped being important. Many students were distracted by more crucial aspects of their lives and forgot to take a break to read. Although the pandemic ended a couple of years ago, reading is still in a continuous decline. This is a major problem and should not be taken lightly. Losing reading also means losing other skills students gain from it. These other skills, grammar, writing, concentration, and more, affect students, teachers, and even authors nationwide. To prevent the decline from continuing in the future, students should find ways to add reading into their daily lives. From creating book clubs to reading books online, there are plenty of ways students can find something they enjoy. Reading may not be everyone’s favorite, but it is very important. Similar to exercising physically, it’s exercise for the mind. Reading isn’t all bad, as it allows students to experience other people’s lives, stories, etc. Besides, sometimes it is nicer to be in the fantasy world instead of the real world.