No matter how promising a lot of modern developments may seem, our electronic age makes it possible for anyone with a negative bent to develop statistics to show “it’s not as good as it looks.” There is an immediacy to contrariness.

Take the Harry Potter fantasy series, seven books in all, by J.K. Rowling. They have caught on well enough that Rowling is wealthier than the queen of her native England. The five motion pictures that so far have emerged from the printed pages also have shattered records for financial intake and profit and the ancillary products are an industry unto themselves.

But one major reason why so many people were excited by the Potter craze was the prospect that it would trigger interest among young people in reading – not only to learn about their favorite characters but to pursue other topics.

There has developed a large following of the Rowling efforts who think such goals have been reached. That is outstanding, considering the expanding rate of American illiteracy and the fact that too few read for information or enjoyment. Good reading habits among youngsters offer the chance that our educational levels might rise.

But in such a climate, naysayers are inclined to proliferate and take delight that original premises are in error. Take the Harry Potter adventures, for example. Critics are now contending that while younger students have been more involved in reading than they once were due to the Rowling efforts, things tend to level off.

A supposed survey showed that while more youngsters in grade schools are doing more “reading for fun,” with the boost from the Potter books, eighth-graders and up are reading no more than they were 10 years ago at the onset of the Potter activity.

Now just what is “reading for fun”? Were youngsters diving into the Potter legend for sheer delight or because they were curious and wanted to know things they could share with acquaintances and families, things they could learn by reading.

Reading can be fun, but it also has many other attributes. There seems to be a great emphasis in public schools these days about making learning “fun.” Both teachers and students should remember that many activities, including reading, are worthwhile whether they are fun or not.