Reading in the Secondary Schools

In a great many high schools, teachers are finding that their students\u27 inability to comprehend the textbook at grade level is becoming an increasingly serious problem. Frequently, these teachers state, reading the text with adequate understanding is out of the question for many of their students. High school administrators are looking for ways to set up special classes or institute remedial reading programs in order to solve what appears to be a growing reading problem. Upon closer examination, teachers and administrators may find that, for a large proportion of these reading problems, insufficient vocabulary plays a large causal role. They may concur with Luella Cole, who said, In all probability, an inadequate vocabulary is the greatest single cause for failure to read with comprehension in either general or technical fields. (Elementary School Subjects, Rineholt, 1946, page 40