Reading Section
EU*READ Manifesto - Reading Section
Culture, Science and Education are unthinkable in the absence of reading.
It is vital that as many people as possible have good reading skills and read with pleasure at school, at work and in their free time, because:
- reading imparts quality to life;
- reading provides access to culture and cultural heritage;
- reading is essential to participation in our society;
- reading empowers and emancipates citizens.
Therefore the European Platform for the Promotion of Reading asserts that:
- In our societies social cohesion and community participation are of the utmost importance. This poses a growing challenge for education in many European industrialized countries. There is thus a need to pay special attention to the design of appropriate strategies for promoting (cultural) literacy to children with various cultural backgrounds.
- The curriculum and instruction of the school and classroom should support the development of reading and student participation in a wide range of reading activities during the teaching of language, science and social studies. Teachers should be well equipped in facilitate their pupils to read creatively, for pleasure and for learning.
- Reading presupposes a high-quality reading environment: Books ownership should be stimulated; A wide network of public libraries is vital; Every school should have its own, well equipped library and should work closely with local bookshops and public libraries.
- Reading-related research should be facilitated and further developed.
- A reading culture requires a set of supporting legal and statutory instruments: effective copyright legislation; public lending right; legal facilities that permit the regulation of retail price maintenance for books.
- New Media, Radio and Television should be employed to reach target groups for whom reading is not self-evident.
EU*READ encourages the European Governments to develop strategies, policies and plans that implement the principles expressed in this Manifesto in order to create a world of engaged readers.
A society who creates readers, creates active citizens.
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