AIBU to be shocked at new survey re children and books?

[mrscoleridge]

New survey out seems to suggest that 4 million children do not have a book at home. AIBU to think this is completely unbelievable especially when cost is mentioned. I thought libraries were free and that you can pick up books for next to nothing on ebay/charity shops/second hand on Amazon etc. Our literacy rate is near the bottom of the table in Europe and no wonder; bet lots of theses households have Xbox and all that twaddle etc.

I've always found this figure very odd. DS proudly says he is going to his 'library' the bottom three shelves of the hallway bookcase

Bertha - very true - there is a lot of emphasis put on stories. IMO the learning comes from having the interest in the first place - that's where the stories as children are very tiny comes from. then later, they can learn facts (starting in a story-type way - there are loads of children's reference books where the facts are told in stories - Ladybird used to do shedloads of this type of book, and I used to devour them!) - after the story type facts, come the proper reference books.
It's a staged process.

I'm not surprised.

Also South London here, and although I'm squeamish about saying it, it represents a real resistance to learning and anti education bias among many.

For a few it's genuine ignorance (by which I mean lack of knowledge), but I think if you live in a city and don't have books in your house it because you've consciously rejected the validity of reading and education.