Early and Often

I just read an article, New Reading Standards Aim to Prep Kids for College, about the Common Core Standards Initiative, which believes that "it should be clear to every student, parent, and teacher what the standards of success are in every school."  The article was focused on reading and what would happen under the new standards--"by the last couple years of high school, about 70 percent of what students read across all subjects must be nonfiction."  When I read this my librarian heart skipped a beat--what about Shakespeare, Harper Lee, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens--to name just a few.  At the end of the article the first reader comment made me feel a whole lot better.  "All reading and thinking starts at home.  Poor or rich, the library is free.  Get your kids in there early and often.  Our local library system has been in my kids lives since they were toddlers.  Whatever standards the school sets for my kids, Common Core or otherwise, they will have had plenty of time to absorb the written word and discuss their thoughts at home.  Schools can only do so much.  I feel it is my job to turn off the videos at home and allow my children a chance to explore and discover the classics and non-fiction at home.  Between school and home, my kids should do okay."  Beautifully said, and I think this persons words would make a great slogan: "Get your kids into our Library early and often".  What do you think?