With the fact that reading opens the doors to a whole new world, United States Ambassador, John Rood, on Tuesday implored local businesses and organisations to become involved in raising the level of interest in reading among children.
While visiting Uriah McPhee Primary School, Ambassador Rood spoke of how the U.S Embassy’s reading programme in The Bahamas is an extension of an initiative of Laura Bush, wife of U.S president George W. Bush.
“I hope that through my example that others in The Bahamas, whether businesses or government, would take interest in this and spend a few minutes reading to classes, visiting classes, donating books, reading to kids who may not have parents read to them. It’s just very critical,” Ambassador Rood told The Guardian.
He noted that it is interesting that President Bush’s wife is a librarian and teacher who has made reading a priority of his administration.
“Not only promoting reading in the United States, but (she) has asked the president to ask the ambassadors worldwide to do what they can to promote literacy and to share the joy of reading with the people in the country that they serve.
“Laura Bush believes very strongly in reading. She supports reading initiatives.”
Principal of the school, Thelma Dean, agreed with Ambassador Rood that businesses and organisations need to partner with schools in their reading programmes. She said it is a very tangible way of assisting.
“Many business houses support us in ways that we appreciate, but this real and tangible way shows that concern at that level. Children understand that even better.”
The principal of the school for the past six years said reading is integrated across the curriculum at the government primary school, as the administration is “really focused” on it.
She added that it was a great motivation to have Ambassador Rood take time out of his busy schedule to read to a group of third-graders.
“It’s an incentive for them to try harder and do more because without reading, they’re condemned to a life that really won’t be the best, without success. You need reading for every aspect of life.”
During his visit, Ambassador Rood read a story about Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr to the students. He also allowed a few volunteers to help him read the story.
According to the ambassador, he has been a part of reading initiatives “throughout his entire life,” including those in Jacksonville and other parts of Florida.
“I’ve always felt that reading is the foundation of everything. If children can’t read, they can’t compete, they can’t move on and take the opportunities that this world is going to present.”
He is convinced that the wider community could make a different in the level of interest in reading, once they volunteer their time.
“Whether it means visiting schools, talk about reading. If each of us do a little bit, we will affect some children and they will improve their interest and love of reading.”
As a part of its reading programme, about eight to 12 staff members of the U.S. Embassy go to Woodcock Primary weekly. “They are volunteers who participate in the programme. They divide up and each reads to a class. Just that little bit of interest and support for reading goes a long way,” he said.
Expressing that parents are key in assisting their children to develop reading skills, he said a love of reading must be fostered at a young age.
“People that really love reading – if you talk to them – you would find out that before they learn to read, they were read to at night. I believe that children when they are read to when they are young, they develop an interest in listening to stories and if they don’t have that experience, when they’re put in front of a television their interest is different. They go to a TV for relaxation instead of a book for relaxation.”
Ambassador Rood did not leave the school before adding to their library collection, which elated Ms Dean. The school received a box of books and a poster of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s famous ‘I have a Dream’ speech.
By: By HADASSAH HALL, The Nassau Guardian
