The Importance of READING!

Reading is important at any level and at all stages in ones life. Thus, being unable to read is not something we should be proud of no matter who we are or where we are from; whether you are a student, parent, teacher/educator or maybe just an onlooker. However, it’s an issue we should hold with the upper most importance and do everything we can within our capacity to tackle this virus that has been eating away at our younger generation for the pass decade.

In my opinion, READING is the greatest problem in our Education System here in Jamaica. While I give honour to those who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to correct this problem, I believe that so much more can be done to irradiate this problem once and for all.

Reading is not a teacher or a school problem, it’s not a mother or father issue nor it is a if I want to learn to issue. Reading is not a her or his problem, a school or class problem; reading is not a me problem or your problem. Bottom line: Reading is a our problem; students, teachers, educators, parents and even extended family and community members. This is OUR problem, we all have equal responsibility to ensure that those under our care from birth, for a day, a week , month or years are given the tools the need most to survive in today’s society. Our world is changing rapidly and gone are the days where you could slide through unnoticed. Everything is being recorded and logged away for the future. Presently, reading is key to everyone and in everything we do on a daily basis.

It is not and never was the teacher or the school sole responsibility to ensure that a child learns to read. However, it is and should always be a partnership or collaboration between home and school, teacher, student and parent(s). None of whom is independent of the other, thou at times we make it out to be that way. How has that benefitted any of the parties?

Let’s look at it from this prospective, reading is a team sports; we get the best results when all the members of the team work together pulling his or her own weigh; keeping up his/her part of the deal. Here as this team is made up of school/teacher, home/parent and student, with each member doing what needs to be done there is no way the team will fail.

Let us take a step back for a minute and examine our work so far, individually and collectively; are all things aligned accordingly? Is everything in its place? Are there any short comings on your path? What improvement can be made? What will you do to make up for your short comings?

Our Reading problem though big can be fixed with small steps, we each doing that which needs to be done to make our lives collectively best at home, school and on the job.

Let us do something about in our own rights. Do your part today.