I don't think I would have much disagreement if I say that reading is a skill that all must have. I taught at the middle school level and many think that the time to learn to read is long past. At that age each student has a different reading level. They have certain skills that are strong and missing or weak in other skills.
I learned how to administer one reading test. Mostly I tested the strategies kids. The strategies group activities taught reading and the teacher wanted to know what areas needed work.
I think that all teachers and subject areas should make an effort to teach reading skills.
The odd kid in my school was a very avid reader and when the teacher wasn't looking they would read. I thought that for language arts if you let a kid read they would learn what was on the course of studies. Now the math teachers didn't like kids reading in their math class and it's true that kids wouldn't learn much math by reading. However , if I ask most adults today to divide fractions they are not able to do it. If I asked most adults to factor trinomials , they would look at me as if they had never heard about them. If I asked about grammar they would have very little idea.
So I'm getting to my point. I had one or two of those kids who wanted to read all the time. I let them.
Now one of these parents with a kid who always read came in for an interview. They were very concerned about this kid reading all the time. Other teachers had complained. I gave them my opinion that the kid would learn just as much from reading as following the class. It so happens that the Dad as our local MLA (Member of the legislature) The Dad bought into this idea. But one look at Mom's face told me that she did not agree. A compromise was reached and I would make sure the kid followed the lesson.
For people who are avid readers life long learning happens for their whole life.
