Comedian, writer and former mayor of Reykjavík JÓN GNARR, writes a weekly column for the weekend issue of Fréttablaðið, Iceland's most read newspaper and we publish an English version here at Iceland Insider.
This week a national pact about literacy was signed. I have to admit that I am not quite sure what it’s all about. I am part of this nation. I have five children, one at school age. I am an author and a screenwriter. Therefore, I have both emotional and financial interests in people being proficient readers. I listened to a long interview with the Minister of Education about this campaign, but I was none the wiser.
As in any real national campaign, a song is written. Not quite, though. New lyrics were written to an old song. The song is “It’s Good to Read”, new lyrics to “It’s Good to Love” by Bubbi Morthens. The song is supposed to be an inspiration for kids. They are to listen to the song and grab a book. Or, perhaps, this is for the parents. But to me, this sounds like so many other things, like new lyrics to an old melody.
I think this is a small and badly reasoned effort which will have little or no success. I think this is such a serious matter that they should have gone for an original song. I really think this initiative is too cheap to call it a National Pact. Where is the President, for example? And why are writers like myself not invited to take part?
I think this is like we are going to a battle that is already lost because there are no soldiers with weapons, only trumpeters. This is a campaign that shows willingness, but nothing more than that. I also have to admit that I don’t understand the concept of “practical reading”. I always think of this as being able to read the product descriptions in the grocery store. I don’t understand the thought behind the concept. What happened to “reading for pleasure”?
Tough Competition
I think I began reading because I was bored. And I think this is the reason why Icelanders have read so much through the ages. People were isolated and didn´t have anything else to pass the time.
Robinson Crusoe had only one book on his island, the Bible, and he read it from cover to cover. I have read it myself, and it is intensely dull. You either read it as an assignment or because you have absolutely nothing else to read. But this is a different age. There is a plethora of more accessible and easier distractions than books. Kids’ attention is more drawn to smartphones, the internet, video games and television. Books come last. This is a tough competition.
To Pay Kids for Reading
Maybe it is time to rethink the strategy if people are really serious about this. I’m not quite sure what is needed, but I know it will cost a lot of money. I have often pointed out, both here and elsewhere, that Icelandic is a question of money. It costs a lot to maintain our language. If we want to do that, then we have to be conscious about it and willing to pay for it. If we don’t want to pay, then reading skills will gradually deteriorate and Icelandic will die and English take over. This trend has already started.
The next generation of computers will be voice-controlled. That is a fact. I use the SIRI artificial intelligence in my phone. We communicate in English. Household appliances will also soon be voice-controlled. It will cost us one or two billions to make it possible for us to talk to our machines in Icelandic. If this will not be done, I fear the consequences.
We also have to reshuffle all the money we are already spending on reading lessons. I find it very unlikely that that will happen, unfortunately. Even product descriptions on packaging are not being translated. Perhaps we need a completely new ideology in teaching reading? We have been trying to get children to read because it is such a noble and exciting adventure. And often it is. Some children discover this wonderful world of books. But many run out of steam and give up. And they are continually growing in number, as shown by many surveys.
How about taking up a motivation and reward system? Why not pay kids for reading?
Comedian, writer and former mayor of Reykjavík JÓN GNARR, writes a weekly column for the weekend issue of Fréttablaðið, Iceland's most read newspaper and we publish an English version here at Iceland Insider.
This week a national pact about literacy was signed. I have to admit that I am not quite sure what it’s all about. I am part of this nation. I have five children, one at school age. I am an author and a screenwriter. Therefore, I have both emotional and financial interests in people being proficient readers. I listened to a long interview with the Minister of Education about this campaign, but I was none the wiser.
As in any real national campaign, a song is written. Not quite, though. New lyrics were written to an old song. The song is “It’s Good to Read”, new lyrics to “It’s Good to Love” by Bubbi Morthens. The song is supposed to be an inspiration for kids. They are to listen to the song and grab a book. Or, perhaps, this is for the parents. But to me, this sounds like so many other things, like new lyrics to an old melody.
I think this is a small and badly reasoned effort which will have little or no success. I think this is such a serious matter that they should have gone for an original song. I really think this initiative is too cheap to call it a National Pact. Where is the President, for example? And why are writers like myself not invited to take part?
I think this is like we are going to a battle that is already lost because there are no soldiers with weapons, only trumpeters. This is a campaign that shows willingness, but nothing more than that. I also have to admit that I don’t understand the concept of “practical reading”. I always think of this as being able to read the product descriptions in the grocery store. I don’t understand the thought behind the concept. What happened to “reading for pleasure”?
Tough Competition
I think I began reading because I was bored. And I think this is the reason why Icelanders have read so much through the ages. People were isolated and didn´t have anything else to pass the time.
Robinson Crusoe had only one book on his island, the Bible, and he read it from cover to cover. I have read it myself, and it is intensely dull. You either read it as an assignment or because you have absolutely nothing else to read. But this is a different age. There is a plethora of more accessible and easier distractions than books. Kids’ attention is more drawn to smartphones, the internet, video games and television. Books come last. This is a tough competition.
To Pay Kids for Reading
Maybe it is time to rethink the strategy if people are really serious about this. I’m not quite sure what is needed, but I know it will cost a lot of money. I have often pointed out, both here and elsewhere, that Icelandic is a question of money. It costs a lot to maintain our language. If we want to do that, then we have to be conscious about it and willing to pay for it. If we don’t want to pay, then reading skills will gradually deteriorate and Icelandic will die and English take over. This trend has already started.
The next generation of computers will be voice-controlled. That is a fact. I use the SIRI artificial intelligence in my phone. We communicate in English. Household appliances will also soon be voice-controlled. It will cost us one or two billions to make it possible for us to talk to our machines in Icelandic. If this will not be done, I fear the consequences.
We also have to reshuffle all the money we are already spending on reading lessons. I find it very unlikely that that will happen, unfortunately. Even product descriptions on packaging are not being translated. Perhaps we need a completely new ideology in teaching reading? We have been trying to get children to read because it is such a noble and exciting adventure. And often it is. Some children discover this wonderful world of books. But many run out of steam and give up. And they are continually growing in number, as shown by many surveys.
How about taking up a motivation and reward system? Why not pay kids for reading?
