[motoh]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...oryId=112312561

Moreso than the funding issue, the decision that 'how' is more important than 'why' utterly infuriates me.

~M

[Boldfinger]

You have saddened me with this news Motoh, thanks

Research has directed programming toward phonics and reading fundamentals as the front line of the literacy fight. Reading Rainbow occupied a more luxurious space — the show operated on the assumption that kids already had basic reading skills and instead focused on fostering a love of books.

Simensky calls Reading Rainbow's 26-year run miraculous — and says that its end is bittersweet.

Reading Rainbow's impending absence leaves many open questions about today's literacy challenges, and what television's role should be in addressing them.

[Dyire]

Butterfly in the sky~

[Vigilous]

Dear god. I think I just died on the inside.

[Godin]

"...started with the Department of Education under the Bush administration..."

Why doesnt this surprise me? Even out of office, Bush is STILL managing to fuck shit up for the rest of us.

[Vigilous]

Wise man once asked: "Is our children learning?"

[Cruzandercerberus]

It's unfortunate that now no one will ever learn to read.

Thanks again Bush.

[Villainous]

The future? Officially fucked, without grease.

[pathwriter]

It's unfortunate that now no one will ever learn to read.

Thanks again Bush.

That's a nice attempt at snark, but Reading Rainbow was never about teaching people to read (nor is NCLB -- god alone knows what NCLB is supposed to achieve), it was getting people interested in reading. You're college-educated, so I'm going to make the probably grossly incorrect assumption that you read more than one book a year. Our Presidents have a well-publicized reading list. But how many people with a high school education have cracked a novel since senior English class?

[Levian]

That's a nice attempt at snark, but Reading Rainbow was never about teaching people to read (nor is NCLB -- god alone knows what NCLB is supposed to achieve), it was getting people interested in reading. You're college-educated, so I'm going to make the probably grossly incorrect assumption that you read more than one book a year. Our Presidents have a well-publicized reading list. But how many people with a high school education have cracked a novel since senior English class?

I know a high school drop out that reads more than his fair share of books. Just figured I'd throw that out there.

Personally I think I burned myself out on it. In high school it was like a personal challenge to pickup the biggest, thickest books I could find and see how fast I could rifle through them. After tearing through War and Peace in a week's time the challenge was more or less gone, along with my interest.

[Cruzandercerberus]

That's a nice attempt at snark, but Reading Rainbow was never about teaching people to read (nor is NCLB -- god alone knows what NCLB is supposed to achieve), it was getting people interested in reading. You're college-educated, so I'm going to make the probably grossly incorrect assumption that you read more than one book a year. Our Presidents have a well-publicized reading list. But how many people with a high school education have cracked a novel since senior English class?

That was a nice attempt at an insult. I was snarking the nostalgia based knee-jerk reaction to the cancellation of a show that has run more than long enough to remain in reruns into perpetuity without any child ever seeing a rerun for the duration of their childhood.

[Seigrith]

But how many people with a high school education have cracked a novel since senior English class?

I can't fucking lie, I haven't actually read a book since high school. I'd really like to be able to, but it's grown capriciously difficult for me to be able to associate reading with leisure and not some scholastic parlor trick of pudmulching inanity that I'd have to perform like a circus bear who rides a bike simply because his feet are nailed to the fucking pedals. When excuses become more difficult to make than time, I will resume my fondness for perusing.

[firefeng]

His smile doesn't reach his cold, dead fish-eyes. Gentlemen, deplore this show's cancellation as you may, yet I tell you now that we are sparing our children a monstrosity. At least Star Trek had the decency to conceal those black pools of dead eternity.

[Flokk]

Oh man that sucks. I loved that show as a kid and have loved knowing it was still on the air all these years.

At least...until today. Damn.

Edit: I read all the time! Nothing like a good book.

[renzuko]

i still read >.> if anything i read more for a while, cuz i had more time to read >.>

[MrReinhardt]

This saddens me, not nearly as deeply when I heard the news of Mr. Rodgers passing.

[Corrderio]

I can't fucking lie, I haven't actually read a book since high school. I'd really like to be able to, but it's grown capriciously difficult for me to be able to associate reading with leisure and not some scholastic parlor trick of pudmulching inanity that I'd have to perform like a circus bear who rides a bike simply because his feet are nailed to the fucking pedals. When excuses become more difficult to make than time, I will resume my fondness for perusing.

I'll have to agree, it's not that I don't like to read. It's just I can't find anything that interests me.

[Villainous]

Same, I read but I don't really know what's good, so I stick to a small pool of authors.
Reading Rainbow for adults would be sweet, sorta like that English teacher that never taught the assigned books and always gave us cool shit to read instead.

[Flokk]

Gibson needs to write more.

[Griss]

sucks that the show has been canned, i grew up watching it i think we all did. i think the only episode that i can actually remember was the one that showed how cheese is made

though any one else find it a bit ironic that there is a Listen to this story option?