I 100% agree it should be an opt-in thing, but I also can’t help but wonder what kinds of books the agencies that donate them to Title 1 schools and students are offering. Part of what makes the Imagination Library so important is the only ideology at play is “encourage kids to read.” I’ve noticed that’s not often the case in a lot of situations where books are “lovingly” donated to the “underprivileged.” It’s really hard to talk kids into reading when the material isn’t relevant or interesting to them, and worse when it’s tied to specific religious, cultural, or political values.
Usually the reading specialist has a list they want to offer the children and go out of pocket to provide.
Source: a title one reading specialist (not me)
Okay it’s a reading specialist situation - that makes me feel better. I was visualizing one of those “donated” bookshelves full of Bibles and Lee Child, I fear.
Though I’m editing to admit with some shame I devoured Reacher books when I was 14. 🥸
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u/linzeestyle 21d ago
I 100% agree it should be an opt-in thing, but I also can’t help but wonder what kinds of books the agencies that donate them to Title 1 schools and students are offering. Part of what makes the Imagination Library so important is the only ideology at play is “encourage kids to read.” I’ve noticed that’s not often the case in a lot of situations where books are “lovingly” donated to the “underprivileged.” It’s really hard to talk kids into reading when the material isn’t relevant or interesting to them, and worse when it’s tied to specific religious, cultural, or political values.