The benefits of reading for a society no longer need to be proven.
Posted at 6:00 p.m.
Reading is essential for general culture. Reading contributes to the fight against school dropout. Reading promotes greater empathy and openness to others, a better understanding of the world and the discovery of other realities. Reading is essential for professional development. Reading increases employability. Reading helps to better understand information and to discern facts from opinions. Reading helps to develop critical thinking and thus avoid the spread of rumors and false news. Reading helps relieve stress and, by the same token, is beneficial for mental health. Reading promotes self-confidence. Reading is fun!
Today, thanks to regular and adapted campaigns and actions, we know what we should put on our plates for a balanced diet. Today we know that doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day is necessary to keep us in shape.
However, in Quebec, it is not recognized that time devoted to reading is just as beneficial for our development and our balance.
Many studies show that the pleasure of reading declines as young people progress in their schooling and that many adults have difficulty reading complex texts. Of course, we read out of obligation at school and at work, but how many of us read for pleasure and pass on this pleasure of reading? This is even more paradoxical knowing that in the field, every day, teachers, educators, social workers, artists, booksellers, librarians and many others have been active for decades to improve the literacy level of Quebecers.
With these efforts deployed on a small and medium scale, we are noticing sometimes spectacular results at the local level, but we are convinced that Quebec as a whole could enjoy a true reading culture.
In truth, there is only one thing that would establish a healthy reading culture in Quebec and avoid worrying consequences for our society: real political will.
This is why, on the eve of World Book and Copyright Day, we, organizations and personalities from the worlds of books, culture, literacy, education, business, health, ask the five parties campaigning for the general elections in Quebec in 2022 to make a commitment to make reading a national priority for at least one year. We are asking them to accompany this decision with an exceptional budget that will make it possible to carry out a major awareness campaign and structuring projects.
Reading is not the sole responsibility of the Ministries of Education and Culture and Communications. The issues related to the development of a true culture of reading are multiple and will engage many departments and agencies. It is a political project that requires common leadership. This is why we would like a special multidisciplinary and interdepartmental committee to be created.
We are coming out of two extraordinary years which will leave traces in society and of which we do not yet measure all and all the consequences. We talk a lot about school dropouts, misinformation, mental health, screen addiction, labor shortages. Reading, if it does not solve everything, seems to us to be an element to be valued by all Quebecers, because its contribution is more than beneficial: it is necessary and essential for a prosperous society.