Last semester I had a memorable conversation with a student at our university about writing. I was giving a lecture in a communications class on the importance of writing, specifically, how to write op-eds to influence public opinion and policy. This student raised his hand and politely but assertively told me that writing is “old school” and that he has moved on to images and videos.
Now I don’t want to underestimate the importance and power of images and film for communication in our very visual culture, but neither did I want this student to underestimate the lasting importance and power of writing. With the onset of the digital revolution, many predicted that books would go away. They did not. When the new technology of speech recognition software appeared, many predicted that writing would go away. It did not. Now many are saying something similar about AI and ChatGPT. But again, I predict it will not.
Reading and writing are two essential skills of learning — gateway skills. Our K-12 schools and universities had better get them right. Reading opens up worlds. Writing changes worlds. We only speak as well as we write and think. We only write as well as we read. Both skills are foundational for our democratic republic.
Most of the American Founding Fathers were avid readers and disciplined writers. They understood the value of the press, the writing of political tracts and sermons. Their writings have transcended time and left an indelible mark on American history.
