York Prep: Reading Comprehension Is Key Life Skill

With the back-to-school season officially here, many educators are turning their attention to standardized testing, and particularly to reading comprehension skills—prompting a comment from York Prep.

New York, New York (I-Newswire) September 7, 2012 - With the back-to-school season officially underway—and a presidential election season long in the works—issues related to education are once more on the minds of many Americans. In particular, many parents, students, and educators are considering the pros and cons of standardized testing, a source of perennial debate. A recent article from The Huffington Post makes an argument that will likely prove difficult to disagree with, however; the editorial contends that, while preparing for an exam in mathematics or vocabulary is fairly straightforward, reading comprehension tests are harder to prepare for. The Huffington Post article has won the attention of York Prep, a private school based in New York.

The editorial notes that it is easy for students to drill themselves on vocabulary words, and to practice math problems, as a way of preparing for standardized tests. Reading comprehension, meanwhile, is much more difficult to prepare for, as tests do not come with pre-assigned reading lists, and the number of questions that could be asked about a given passage are infinite.

Though difficult, preparation for reading comprehension exams is not impossible, the article says. In fact, The Huffington Post argues that students are best-prepared for the reading comprehension section of a standardized test when they are instilled with basic skills in logic and reasoning, such as the ability to locate and analyze a thesis statement.

The article ultimately affirms that teaching reading comprehension skills is hard, but necessary—a conclusion that has won the attention of York Prep, a leading private school known for educational rigor. The school has responded to the article with a new statement to the press.

“We completely agree that reading comprehension can be taught,” says the York Prep press statement. “We are in an increasingly knowledge-based world where robots will do the routine manufacturing jobs. Thus, we need educated citizens; people who understand what they are reading. And these skills can be taught and practiced.”

York Prep continues its statement by refuting a common misconception about reading comprehension and standardized tests. “There is a belief that the testing of reading comprehension is just a credential tool,” the school muses. “We disagree with that. Reading comprehension is part of being educated. Understanding what you read is part of being excellent at whatever field of human endeavor you are in, not just for lawyers or professors but for everyone.”

Indeed, for York Prep, reading comprehension is worth teaching because it is ultimately vital for shaping cognitive ability. “From reading comprehension comes critical thinking,” the school concludes. “It is not just about credentials.”

York Prep is based in New York and has approximately 350 enrolled students in grades six through 12.

ABOUT:

York Prep is a private school in New York City's Upper West Side. Established by Ronald and Jayme Stewart; York Prep provides students in grades six through 12 with educational resources and individualized curriculum and course offerings. Today, the school caters to the needs of 350 enrolled students.

To learn more about York Prep, visit yorkprep.org.