Mockup book with a soft orange cover. The concept of meaninglessness and confusion of information. Mixed letters and words. Inability to perceive information

Getty Images

My Students Can’t Read

The generational collapse in literacy is measurable, persistent, and likely to get worse.

The Review | Essay

June 1, 2026

Six weeks into the term, I assigned my rhetoric and writing students a 20-page article. It was the same length I had assigned for five years and the same length I had read without complaint as an undergraduate a decade ago. Not one student finished it.

To continue reading for FREE, please sign in.

Or subscribe now to read with unlimited access for as low as $10/month.

Don’t have an account? Sign up now.

A free account provides you access to a limited number of free articles each month, plus newsletters, job postings, salary data, and exclusive store discounts.

We’d like to hear from you — tell us how The Chronicle has made a difference in your work or helped you stay informed. You can also send feedback about this article or submit a letter to the editor.

Share

About the Author

Tyler Jagt has taught literature and critical writing at Mercer University, James Madison University, and Wake Forest University.

Top Jobs

from Chronicle Careers

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Professor, School of Law
School of Law, Western Sydney University
Superintendent/President
Santa Monica College
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, MARKETING
Northwestern University
Assistant Director of Safety and Security
St. Lawrence University
Executive Director, Major Giving
Ohio University
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Calhoun Community College
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
James Madison University
Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs
Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell
Professor or Associate Professor at the Department of Geopolitical Studies, CNEAS, Tohoku University
Tohoku University

Newsletters

Jagged Intelligence

Sign up for Jagged Intelligence, your one-stop shop for understanding AI’s impact on higher ed.

The Latest News

A poster at a rally against cuts at the New School on December 10, 2025. features New School President Joel Towers’s face and the phrase “Not my president.”

Finance & Operations

‘It’s Just Been Agony’: Facing a Big Deficit, the New School Begins Layoffs

Faculty members turn away from the stage during the College of Staten Island's commencement ceremony May 28 in protest of the college's prerecorded student commencement speech policy.

Commencement 2026

Some Colleges Have Prerecorded Student Speeches to Avoid Drama. At This Campus, It Didn’t Work.

Close-up view of an abstract arrangement of finely crafted wooden cubes stacked in staggered rows. The blocks feature varied natural wood grain patterns and warm honey-brown tones, illuminated by soft studio lighting that highlights their smooth surfaces, crisp edges, and subtle shadows. The composition creates a modern geometric pattern with depth and texture against a clean, light background.

Stacking up

Colleges See New Way to Lure Students

Photo illustration with texts from Auburn University forms provided to faculty, requested they confirm compliance with a new Alabama law.

'Unforced error'

Inside One University’s Chaotic Attempt to Police Its Curriculum

Latest Opinion from The Review

Photo illustration showing a man with his mouth gaged and censored by red lines

The Review | Opinion

Commencement Is Broken. Here’s How to Fix It.

Vector illustration stuck into a stack of research papers and a book.

The Review | Essay

Most Academic Research Should Stop

By William Deresiewicz

The Review | Essay

This Semester Shook My Faith as a Professor

Live Events, Workshops, and Conferences

Innovating the Student Experience

The Future of College Athletics