I think it takes everyone to learn to like reading in their own time. I started reading at the age of four and never stopped. No, I did not like everything I had to read in school. I clearly remember kicking my chair in first grade reading group because I was sooo bored. They moved me into a second grade reading book. By fourth grade I learned the art of reading a second story while the class was reading one story aloud. While the teacher tried to catch me out on this, I always knew where we were in the story the class was reading. A trick I managed to keep throughout high school. Yep, I was the one with the hidden book. Freshman year we moved during the beginning of the school year and I was placed in a remedial class - need I say more. I do not really remember all we had to read except that we did read Agatha Christie in Junior year. I blanked out the rest. I was good at going into my own world in English class. It was not until my Senior year where they figured you were going to college that I had a decent class and teacher (it was rumored she taught college, but I do not know if it was true or not) However, she did teach us how to look at a book and look at it's background. I remember reading Gulliver's Travels - not a book I would recommend personally, but she gave us all the political background and what the meaning was behind all the weird stuff that went on in the book. It made more sense and I learned how to look at period books in a different light, and only then can you fully understand some of those classics. Jack London's books would make a great more sense to any 7th grader if they talked more about the gold rush and perhaps read Will Hobbs books (his character even talks about meeting Jack London).
Now teachers are somewhat hampered by that good ole core curriculum, the SAR points, and less money every year going into things like libraries - oops media centers. I wish for every dollar they cut from libraries and the arts programs they would cut two dollars from sports programs. In the end is a child going to learn more from having a decent library, music program and art classes or being able to play in the newest of uniforms on the best of fields or courts. (I am not against sports, they have there place, just should not be the highest priority).
My younger brother is severely dyslexic - completely reverses words and letters. Barely read a book as a kid and now reads constantly. He admits that on some books, mostly non-fiction, he sometimes reads them two, three and four times before he gets the entire understanding of the book and he still uses a piece of paper in many cases under each line. If you would have told me when I was in high school listening to him struggle to read that he would love reading as an adult, I would have called you a liar.
Today kids have all sorts of things to distract them. Not just TV, but video games, texting, computers. Things that move at a much faster pace than a book. While I think some of the Classics should probably stay, most of them should be shunted off to college or AP classes. They are outdated, in a time that is hard for many adults to understand, especially if they do not have a knowledge of history - I know US history, but while I might enjoy Jane Eyre - I miss the subtle undertones I know are there relating to that period of history. We may need to redefine what is classic and what the average reader needs to read.
I hated reading Death of a Salesman (though I got an A on my paper), Gulliver's Travels and I have forgotten what other Classics I had to read in Senior English. Remember I loved reading, carried a fun reading book with me to every class. I might add I graduated from high school quite a long time ago, can't imagine reading those books today.