Videogames, the scapegoat we all need

If it wasn’t enough that all us gamers are killing people with our copycat murders, it would appear that we are also killing off children, or at least their enthusiasm for reading.

I has been pointed out in various places that because 37% of our children play video games for more than three hours everyday England has dropped to 15 in terms of reading ability for children, from third. Because all of these kids are gaming so much less children are reading for pleasure, infact just a third (33%). I don’t know what the other 30% do, but they probably do both.

It would appear that our wonderful education secretary Ed Balls is very happy to agree with this idea by telling parents to cut down the amount of time their kids use the PC, game and watch TV, and by reading to them ‘for at least 10 minutes’ at bed time.  So that’s just an excuse so that he doesn’t have to look into making reading more interesting for kids using the education system then.

The Mirror did however suggest some nice alternative, courtesy of teacher’s union representatives.  Steve Sinnott from the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said “Our overloaded curriculum and testing system is sapping young people’s enthusiasm of reading for pleasure.”. A sentiment that Chris Keates of NASUWT agrees with, “The simple fact is that too many children view reading as a chore rather than a pleasure.”

Games aren’t all bad y’know. There are those that can actually help kids, look at all that nice brain training Nintendo have ready for you, there’s even reading involved in some games. The analytical skills that the numerous ‘Tycoon’ games can give you may actually help kids.

As ever, games are the focus of the attention, and seem to be the root of all evil. At least most characters in games speak in real words, and the ‘txt speak’ that has developed isn’t always encouraged. I game, possibly not as much as three hours everyday, but I also read, more than 10 minutes at bed time, and my writing, hopefully, isn’t that bad.  But I must admit that the education system hasn’t always encouraged me to pick up a book and read. Before Mr. Balls decides to go with the flow and pick out an easy scapegoat maybe he should take a look at what he can do with the education system, isn’t that his job?

MTFBWY