Schools May Be Out, but Reading Isn’t

It’s normally time to forget about studies in this far suburb of the nation’s capital. School is out. The local theater offers diversions like “Batman” or a lost world full of dinosaurs.

But like it or not, the youngsters lining up for movie tickets here will also have to follow the tribulations of Pip in Dickens’ “Great Expectations” or some other well-worn print character before school returns in September.

They’re not alone. Public schools nationwide have decided that a small dose of required reading will keep young minds from going too limp in summer’s heat, humidity and idleness.

Prince William County, which surrounds Manassas, adopted a summer reading requirement two years ago for all students from kindergarten through high school.

But despite the national concern with improving education, forcing children to read in the summer can be tough. Even some reading experts wonder whether the pressure will just breed resistance in touchy adolescents.

“If they were to give us a lot of books, that would be one thing,” Eric Noll, 13, said while waiting one day recently to see “Batman & Robin.” “They just have us read two books, and that’s it.”

Parents weary of nagging their young ones to get their homework done now must decide whether to start cracking the whip in June, July or August.

The books must be read, and journals or other accompanying assignments finished. Schools vary on how to score the youngsters on the reading, but it’s still homework.

“It should be their vacation,” said Bill Johnson, perched on a stool as sons John, 16, and Mike, 12, browsed through much lighter fare at Comic World. The school reading load is not that demanding, and the boys are “A-B” students, but something’s not quite right about it. “It should be voluntary,” said Johnson. “It depends on the kid.”

A daughter, Carlena, 13, breezes through books, he added, and would have no trouble.

Although Johnson has his misgivings, nothing beats the protest raised in Suwanee, Ga., last year over a similar requirement that had been imposed at Fort Collins Hill High School. Incoming seniors signed petitions against it, noting the demands of jobs and, yes, summer school. A number of parents also complained.

The school made some changes but kept the requirement to read one classic book and a novel of the student’s choice.

Teachers know this is new turf and want to move gradually.

“I would hope we’re going to go beyond that minimum of two,” said Reba Greer, supervisor for language arts, libraries and social studies in the Prince William County schools.

Bookstores and libraries also need to adjust, school officials found. In neighboring Fairfax County, which has the nation’s 12th-largest district, bookstores and libraries couldn’t meet the demand when the county’s one-book requirement was imposed last year.

This year, the list of books to choose from was doubled and the information sent out earlier.

Schools also often put some fun material on the reading list.

In Randolph, Mass., incoming juniors may read John Grisham’s page-turner “The Firm” as one of the two required books.

The list also includes Thomas Hardy’s “The Mayor of Casterbridge,” Charlotte Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” William Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying” and George Orwell’s “1984.”

“What we tried to do was blend classics and contemporary works so we have something that would appeal to everyone,” said Karen Brodeur, director of humanities at Randolph Junior-Senior High School.

Although the choices are geared to future course work, “We’re trying to encourage reading as a pleasurable activity.”

For Prince William youngsters, the idea may be catching on, pushing them to ideas or books they might otherwise not have known.

“It takes away from vacation, I guess, but it also can help you out because it helps your vocabulary a little and it helps you read faster,” said Isaac Bonilla, 14, waiting with Edwin Mora, 14, to see “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.”

“Great Expectations,” on their list, sounded boring.

“They should give us some good books,” Edwin said. “Last year there was this one good book.”

It was “The Devil’s Arithmetic,” Jane Yolen’s story about a young girl and the Holocaust.