Technology 'affecting reading uptake'

June 22 2010

Children's reading habits are being adversely affected by modern technology, a leading playwright has said.

Sir Tom Stoppard, whose literary credits include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead and Jumpers, stressed that the "moving image" is causing books to be left behind and television and the internet take up the majority of children's time.

Commenting ahead of a speech that will be delivered to teaching professionals at the Prince's Teaching Institute next week, Sir Tom pointed out that the printed word is no longer as in demand as it was in bygone years.

"I am aware, as everybody has to be, that there's more competition for one's attention nowadays," he commented.

"I think that's to the detriment; I just don't want the printed page to get swept away by that," Sir Tom added.

He also pointed out that English and the humanities are critically important to children's education and should not be sidelined by the sciences.

Susan Hill, who wrote The Woman in Black also recently argued that the rising popularity of the internet is compromising children's writing skills.

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