Response to Proust and the Squid

As soon as I began to read Proust and the Squid I immediately realized that there was more to the science of reading than I had previously attempted to wrap my mind around. In a society where we are constantly surrounded by writing and text, I think we take for granted how complex the process of comprehending the written word really is, even in its most basic form.
The methods through which Sumerian children learned the skill of writing was strikingly similar to the way in which American children learn to write today. The principles of observation, association, and repetition can be found in both. The English language itself, not just the methods through which it is learned, has it roots in past languages such as Greek and Latin.
It is easy to see why Wolf states that the alphabet is one of the most efficient systems of writing. The brain diagrams on page 62 along with the anecdotes that she tells make it apparent that the circuitry of the brain is very conducive to quick learning of alphabets. Wolf’s assertion that an alphabet leads to more novel thinking is an accurate one, as long as you accept her first premise that the alphabet is an easier and more efficient method of learning writing. If more people are able to learn to read and write, they will be able to learn from the writings of others and come up with their own ideas and mental frameworks. In other words, the alphabet leads to the “democratization” of writing in that more people are able to develop and spread their ideas through reading and writing and these skills are not just limited to the elites, as was often the case in early hieroglyphic systems.
The “two stories” illustration that Wolf uses to describe the manner in which young children learn to read is an interesting an insightful approach. The first story that she tells, in which a child learns to read from hearing readings from parents, phonetics, and association with his or environment, reminds me of the way that I was taught to read (or at least how I was told I was taught to read). My mother was insistent upon frequently reading to me and also insistent that I learn through phonetic methods. As a result, I was able to read at a very young age, so it is clear to me that in many cases, these frequently used methods in our society are efficient ones. However, the second story that Wolf tells shows that many children are at an early disadvantage when it comes to reading. Due to a lack of effort or lack of literary ability in a child’s family, many children from poorer environments arrive at early schooling at a disadvantage. It is obvious that, due to these socioeconomic conditions, many children are less exposed to spoken words and have fewer opportunities to look at written words. I strongly agree with Wolf when she states that a level playing field, in terms of early reading abilities, for all children of all socioeconomic conditions is achievable. However, I believe that the methods of government sponsored pre-school education that Wolf credits are not achieving the results of “leveling the playing field,” as we continue to see little or no improvement in the literacy rates of inner-city children (i.e. Detroit). Thus, making it all the more important that our country continues to study the science of reading, so that we can create better results and opportunities for future children.