Not all students are getting 'Goosebumps'

There is a debate among educators as to whether it is better for a child to read a lot of inferior books or fewer classics.

"It's a tricky one," said Paul O'Brien, English department chair at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady. "Scholars say as long as they're reading, eventually they will make finer choices. I'd like to see them reading as broad a range as possible."

In the lower grades, educators find that many students are interested the "Goosebumps" series. The horror books, written by R.L. Stine, are devoured by many kids, but some adults aren't comfortable with the content.

Adult input

"If the kids are reading -- great," said Thomas Kane, principal of Cohoes Catholic School. "Horror fiction is a staple in our culture. It's mind candy. We do it as adults as well. We read it because it's pleasurable. If the kids enjoy it, let them read it."

However, he added, adults have a responsibility to know what their children are reading. "I would like nothing more than for parents to read the whole 'Goosebumps' series and be able to discuss them with their child," he said.

While many students are interested in the "Goosebumps" series, Donna Palczak, librarian at St. Mary's Institute in Amsterdam, doesn't offer the books in the library.

"I want to be able to offer them other choices," she explained. "I always say, `Don't just read a good book; read a great book."

Choices

Mrs. Palczak said there are many things schools can do to broaden the reading choices students are making. With fourth graders at her school, she has created categories of books that students can select from. Throughout the year, she encourages students to choose from each of the categories; as a result, at the end of the school year, students have been exposed to genres they might not have been before.

Teachers at St. Mary's often feature an author or artist of the week to encourage students to check out books they might not have considered previously.

No matter what parents and schools do to try to encourage reading, choice plays a role. Said Mrs. Palczak, "Children read when they pick it out themselves. That's why I like to give them choices." (MM)

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