Poor Reading Ability

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30393, 18 March 1964, Page 18

Poor Reading Ability

(N Z. Prest Astociation) NELSON, March 17. Tests at the beginning of last year at Nelson College showed that 200 pupils out of a roll of 980 had poor reading ability. Fifty were three or more years below their age in reading ability, and some were as far below their mental age. A spokesman of the College said this when commenting today on a Dunedin report that secondary school principals there were baffled by the number of third formers whose reading ability was almost nil. “The problem has not been recognised in secondary schools before as it was not known to exist,” said the spokesman. Besides the 50 boys three years- or more

below their mental age, another 150 were not reading at the level of their mental age.

The college, assisted by a £5O grant from the Education Department, has spent about £2OO on special books and reading laboratory equipment to improve the position.

Average Age The average age of boys starting at the college is about 13 years four months. Their mental ages range from 11 years to 15 years. Their reading ages vary from 6.6 years to 15 years. To get reading material which they can all cope with is not easy. So far only two boys who have had special assistance with their reading have been re-tested. One had made three years’ progress in one year, the other had made two years’ progress. The college has found that when a boy has difficulty with one word in 100 be loses interest ,

When he has difficulty with one word in 25 he loses the “thread” of the story, and probably the whole point it attempts to make. Reading Speed

The figures are significant, considering that the average reading speed is between 200 and 250 words a minute. All third formers have an entrance test and those with poor reading ability are generally picked up at that stage.

In individual reading tests gnome became “groan,” audience became “accident,” institution became “instition." and so on.

Nelson College authorities first saw reading laboratories in use at Motueka High School in 1962. They are also in use at Nelson Intermediate school and the progress of pupils is noted so that when they reach college their reading education can be continued unbroken.