Visigoths at Academe's Doors?

"If the scuttlebutt about reading is true, the Visigoths are at the door,"
 warn Drs. David Joliffe and Allison Harl. An array of national surveys
 and studies suggests neither high school nor college students spend
 much time preparing for class, the central activity of which entails
 reading assigned articles, chapters, and books. Similar reviews indicate
 college students spend little or no time reading for pleasure. As major
 players in general education, most of which requires substantial reading,
 English department faculty are increasingly asking themselves:
 What are our students reading and why?

Worth Noting

Notes have been aptly described by historian Lizabeth Cohen as "the tracks we leave in the sand, as we head on our trail of discovery." As an ESL teacher, I am reminded they also bear on whether students reach their destination. Moreover, what, at first, may be deemed linguistic deficiency, on closer review, is revealed as inadequate academic skills. As note-taking is a prerequisite of study, in and out of the classroom, I trust you will find this report by Geoffrey Nunberg, a University of California linguist, of interest.   Noted