Panel Discussion 09/25/19

Topic: Students need to read more books.

Moderator - Caissa Baylen

Panelist #1(Librarian) - Joy Esguerra
Panelist #2(Professor) - Christine Mae Pascua
Panelist#3(Researcher)-Jayvee Olapan
Panelist#4(Parent) - Jasmine Amata
Panelist#5(Student)-Lyka Faye Dacayo

Moderator: How many of you here read pocketbooks? How about, uhm, wattpad? Magazines?
Novels? I know that today’s topic may bring up a number of questions from you, and I want to let
you know that I will address as many as I can in the time we have today. So why do students need to
read? Students of this century need to read to enhance their thinking capabilities and to widen their
knowledge about our society. Before we start, let me introduce our chosen panelists for today ’s
topic. From left to right. We have Ms. Joy Esguerra that has been a librarian for almost 3 years. Next
is Mr. Jayvee Olapan, a Researcher from the University of Santo Tomas. We also have Ms. Christine
Mae Pascua, a professor from UP-Diliman. Mrs. Jasmine Amata, a parent and Ms Lyka Faye Dacayo a
student from UP-Diliman.
So, According to the Matrix Blog there are 5 reasons why students need to read.
First of all, it expands vocabulary. It boosts creativity, improves writing skills, and develops
analytical thinking skills and lastly, it enhances memory. Reading enhances knowledge by
exercising the brain causing it to think more, therefore enhancing intelligence. This helps students
to study subjects with more ease and retain the knowledge received from the subject, making them
more knowledgeable.
But as of now, some students rarely read books.Why? Well I ’ll let our panelists discuss about that.

Librarian: As all of us know that our students today have been raised in a technology-based
environment, where information can be acquired easily from the internet. This c auses students to
be dependent on the internet. But of course students get to decide. It depends on illiteracy vs.
aliteracy. But of course, I’m sure that no one hates to read. It’s just that some of us just haven’t found
the right book for us. For all the years I have been working as a librarian, I have never
experienced this kind of situation where there are no teens visiting libraries.

Researcher: Yes, I agree on what you are saying. Some people are just pickier readers than others.
It’s just like when you walk in a bookstore with 100,000 books, 92,000 might not catch your
attention but 8,000 books might. Another reason to why students aren ’t reading that much books is
that some think that they dislike reading. But actually, they j ust may be uninspired to read or
explore different genres.

Moderator: Yes, that is quite the reason why. And of course, I’m sure that there are solutions to
battle this ever evolving problem. Let’s continue with our discussion with Ms.Pascua

Professor: Well, from the years I have been teaching as a Professor at UP- diliman, I have observed
that young students get stimulated through intriguing and challenging things. I can quite visualize
using this technique to encourage students to read more books. Using stimulating and intriguing
textbooks may become the solution.

Parent: Well, as for me. I actually try to encourage my children to read more books but they
get too caught up in playing video games or staying hooked up on the internet. What I can
advice other parents is that they should minimize their children’s use of gadgets and
encourage and support them on reading more books.

Moderator: Thank you both. But of course let’s hear what Ms. Dacayo has to say.

Student: Well, after hearing all of your opinions, I can actually say that, we, students, have
been ignorant and careless of our actions. When in fact we should have cherished and
treasured our Knowledge and we should’ve not been consumed by the internet and
technology. Instead we should have enjoy the things we are supposed to read and
understand. Because that is where real knowledge comes from.

Moderator: Just as Ms. Dacayo said, Real knowledge comes from the enjoyment and
endearment from things around us. And when it comes to students, Books and Reading is
what they should enjoy and cherish.
So let’s have a recap. Reading Books increases knowledge and widens thinking capacity
.And some of the reasons why students nowadays rarely read books is because of digital
distractions, Being picky readers, and lack of encouragement or intriguing concepts.
We should be the role models of the generation today because we are responsible in guiding them to
where they should be in the future. Read read and read.Because reading is power and power comes
with great responsibility.