I agree with Pro Commerce's theory on books, music and the theater.  Most of the books my kids are assigned to read are crap.  Boring tales recognized for their "important" messages.  My daughter was babysitting on Saturday evening and texted me an incomprehensible sentence.  "Who said that?" I sent back. "The stupid book we were assigned," she replied.

Write and assign interesting and good literature and we will be a nation of readers; continue with the "important" crap and kids will watch movies and tune out.