Since Susan Adler, Alberta Dougan, and Jesus Garcia like "big ideas," the author offers one to ponder: young people in this country can not read with comprehension. The saddest thing about this crisis is that it is no secret. The 2001 results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for reading, published in every major newspaper, showed some improvements at the elementary level. After fourth grade, students fall through the cracks by the tens of thousands. In response to the call by Ms. Adler, Ms. Dougan, and Mr. Garcia to teach the "big ideas" in the social studies classroom, the author argues that students must first learn to read and write. (Contains 4 footnotes.)