The Guardian reports that Britain’s education secretary, Alan Johnson wants secondary school libraries to house a "boys' bookshelf,” in order to provide positive, modern, relevant role models" for boys who are reluctant to read or nervous about being bullied as a "swot.”
He adds, “Boys like books which depict them in powerful roles, often as sporting, spying or fighting heroes - not just Jane Austen, but a necessary dose of Anthony Horowitz as well."
It’s all part of an educational strategy to counter growing illiteracy, - and even more depressing statistics. Boys apparently make up 70% of those with special educational needs, 72% of dyslexics, and 88% of those with behavioural, emotional and social needs. Oh, and turn off that telly.
“The average family spends four hours a day watching television,” Johnston notes, “If they read to their children for a tenth of that time, we could practically eradicate illiteracy."
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