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Comic books are fine - but they’re no substitute for reading instruction
According to this This Magazine article, some educators are turning to graphic novels as a way to combat low literacy rates. The idea seems to be that kids would become better readers if only they would read more - and the way to make them read more is to give them comic books.
Personally, I doubt it. It would be interesting to track how many struggling readers progress from graphic novels to actual books - and how many never get past needing pictures. Chances are, we’ll never know. Educators are notoriously reluctant to subject their experiments to data-driven scrutiny.
My opinion is that the use of comic books and graphic novels is yet another of the many ways devised by educators to obscure the fact (from themselves as much as from others) that they have failed to teach so many of their students to read fluently.
Check to see if any tracking anywhere in the world - a big fat no. Perhaps to afraid to find out the reasons. From what I have reviewed, it motivates students to read a comic book rather than a novel filled with words. My youngest reads a graphic from time to time, to save time reading the novel, that she has no interest in, but is required reading. Another worrisome trend in the surfing of graphic books is calling people and students with low-literacy skills, reluctant readers. Another label, without finding the reasons behind the reluctance of reading.
Interesting, my youngest does not like comic books at all. Pictures are too busy, and fewer words to figure out what they are talking about.
I think the surge in graphic novels and books in our schools, have more to do with our publishers and the public education system’s always looking for easy answers to the low achievement. As I went from one site to the next, never once did the instruction methods of the education system was at fault. Always the students, and other variables in our busy world.
As stated in the article, “While the idea of graphic novels and comics as a legitimate means to combat low literacy levels in Canada is still contentious, there are educators across the country hoping people will see the merits of the graphic novel genre, in its ability to act both as a link to many other kinds of reading, and as a fulfilling and meaningful pastime in itself. Maliszewski wants to see all kinds of reading “not just tolerated, but celebrated.”
http://this.org/magazine/2011/08/02/comic-books-graphic-novels-literacy/
It has become more about creating economic activity, than truly giving literacy help for people and students with low literacy skills.