It is disheartening sometimes how few readers of fantasy there seems to be, adults more so then kids. Too be honest, it kind of surprises me there is even a market because I almost never talk anyone who reads fantasy. In fact, even genre readers of any kind, seem to be a minority to me.
That's why I'm constantly riding the internet just to find other fantasy fans to discuss my favorite books with.
That kinda says something when you mention teachers that don't read books too. It’s nice to see teachers making an effort like you are and I’m sure there are others. I’m sure the system doesn’t help though.
I understand now the reasoning behind a lot of required reading I had to do in school, but if my reading experience was only the “literary greats” I was forced to read, I probably wouldn’t read many books just for fun either. In fact, I actually spend several grade school years in the slow readers program when my reading skills were actually above average (they didn’t test as heavily in those days). The truth of the matter was; the books they were giving me bored me out of my skull. Dick and Jane just didn’t cut it, when I was going home to read stacks of action-packed comics. I even remember having to beg a Jr. High English teacher to let me use Tarzan the Untamed by ERB, for a book report.