Derek Thompson

So we've talked about national policy. We've talked about pedagogy. I think people are waiting for us to talk about screens, smartphones, and maybe even to a certain extent, televisions. Let me set us up this way. Screens, I think, would not be the best explanation if it turned out that this decline in literacy was only happening among one very particular cohort of students, because

So we've talked about national policy. We've talked about pedagogy. I think people are waiting for us to talk about screens, smartphones, and maybe even to a certain extent, televisions. Let me set us up this way. Screens, I think, would not be the best explanation if it turned out that this decline in literacy was only happening among one very particular cohort of students, because

So we've talked about national policy. We've talked about pedagogy. I think people are waiting for us to talk about screens, smartphones, and maybe even to a certain extent, televisions. Let me set us up this way. Screens, I think, would not be the best explanation if it turned out that this decline in literacy was only happening among one very particular cohort of students, because

What that would imply is a cohort effect, which is to say a policy change, and that cohort was affected by that policy change. But if screens are relevant, then what we would really expect to see are declining literacy scores across the board, not just for one micro-generation of students, but for older students, for younger students, even for adults.

What that would imply is a cohort effect, which is to say a policy change, and that cohort was affected by that policy change. But if screens are relevant, then what we would really expect to see are declining literacy scores across the board, not just for one micro-generation of students, but for older students, for younger students, even for adults.

What that would imply is a cohort effect, which is to say a policy change, and that cohort was affected by that policy change. But if screens are relevant, then what we would really expect to see are declining literacy scores across the board, not just for one micro-generation of students, but for older students, for younger students, even for adults.

Is there any evidence, Nat, that literacy scores, reading scores, are declining for adults as well?

Is there any evidence, Nat, that literacy scores, reading scores, are declining for adults as well?

Is there any evidence, Nat, that literacy scores, reading scores, are declining for adults as well?

To what extent does that rule in screens as an explanation here for the decline of literacy and reading scores in America?

To what extent does that rule in screens as an explanation here for the decline of literacy and reading scores in America?

To what extent does that rule in screens as an explanation here for the decline of literacy and reading scores in America?

So what would be your stylized explanation here? Like if you were going to write an essay for The Atlantic or the New York Times op-ed section, and the editor approached you and said, Nat, what I want you to do is to write an essay about why

So what would be your stylized explanation here? Like if you were going to write an essay for The Atlantic or the New York Times op-ed section, and the editor approached you and said, Nat, what I want you to do is to write an essay about why

So what would be your stylized explanation here? Like if you were going to write an essay for The Atlantic or the New York Times op-ed section, and the editor approached you and said, Nat, what I want you to do is to write an essay about why

reading scores are declining, why literacy scores are declining, not only for students, fourth grade, eighth grade, but also it seems for adults across the country. Something's happened in the last 12 years and it's crying out for an explanation, especially among the lowest performing readers. What do you think is going on?

reading scores are declining, why literacy scores are declining, not only for students, fourth grade, eighth grade, but also it seems for adults across the country. Something's happened in the last 12 years and it's crying out for an explanation, especially among the lowest performing readers. What do you think is going on?

reading scores are declining, why literacy scores are declining, not only for students, fourth grade, eighth grade, but also it seems for adults across the country. Something's happened in the last 12 years and it's crying out for an explanation, especially among the lowest performing readers. What do you think is going on?

Well, let me engage with that conjecture because I find it quite plausible. Judging from other data that you linked to in your recent report, the American Time Use Survey, going back to the last 20 years, asks people, how much time do you spend reading for personal interest? That is the verbatim language in ATUS. How much time do you spend reading for personal interest?

Well, let me engage with that conjecture because I find it quite plausible. Judging from other data that you linked to in your recent report, the American Time Use Survey, going back to the last 20 years, asks people, how much time do you spend reading for personal interest? That is the verbatim language in ATUS. How much time do you spend reading for personal interest?