The Power of Books: Observations on Early Education
by The debate about the most suitable age to begin formal education has hit the headlines once again, with the suggestion that play based learning is best for the first five years or so.
We also read poetry in class every week, I enjoyed it and I wanted to be able to read the words in the book so that I could read the poems again and again. The poems were fun, one of my favourites was called When Daddy Fell into The Pond, but best of all was the Spike Milligan poem The Ning Nang Nong. As well as promoting a love of words and a desire to read, these early adventures provided a wonderful foundation on which a lasting love of poetry was built. Later on when I was about nine I met a formidable teacher called Mrs Nichol who taught speech and drama. I am thankful now that we were required to learn so much good poetry by heart because it is all still there stored in my memory. I have kept my Poems for Pleasure books from those days and they are among my most treasured possessions.
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By the time my own children went to school, the government had started to fiddle around with the curriculum, and time in the school day to enjoy subjects in greater depth was limited. It left more work for me as a parent because my children complained that there was not time in class to explore their history topic in more detail or to find out more about their science experiment because they had to work to targets. We often searched for information on the internet or went to the library to find further information in books, so at least my children a reason and desire to read.
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They also encountered a reading scheme that was well past it’s sell by date, Roger Red Hat, Billy Blue Hat and their friends led each child through the the process of learning to read. They had never met a boy named Roger or one named Billy, but at least the books got more interesting as they progressed, and the reading scheme was supplemented by real books at each stage. We read at home too and as well as revisiting my old favourites they had favourites of their own, Eddie and Teddy, The Funny Bones, Meg and Mog, Spot the Dog and Elmer the Elephant.
Books, even those designed for young children can provoke strong emotions. I vividly remember my son sobbing as he tried to read The Cat in the Hat, he was only five and he was crying because it didn’t make sense. My son has autistic spectrum disorder and he likes to deal with facts, it has taken many years to get him to understand humour, read non fiction and to recognise the magic of books. I will be forever thankful to J K Rowling whose Harry Potter books enabled my son to access and enjoy fiction, now he reads as much as everyone else in the family.
It is perhaps too much to expect the government to stop messing around with the curriculum, but they would do well to remember that their actions have the potential to squeeze all the joy and individuality out of learning. Achievement has it’s foundations in confident reading and a desire to learn, constant measuring does not encourage growth!
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Post CommentTeves
On October 17, 2009 at 10:37 am
Very interesting article…NIce work!
Sourav
On October 17, 2009 at 11:06 am
I love to read books and it’s the best way to gain knowledge. Good article.
ceegirl
On October 17, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Very interesting, it’s good to read.
cutedrishti8
On October 17, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Nice piece to share…Read, Read and Read
LoveDoctor
On October 17, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Great article. From the time kids are little, it is important that parents read to them to get in the habit of reading. Then, taking the kids to the library when they are in school or even before is good also. It makes reading fun,
wcmonro
On October 17, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Great info. I LOVE to read and try to encourage my children to fall in love with books too. Very important!
Christine Ramsay
On October 18, 2009 at 3:29 am
A very interesting and heartfelt article. Reading is such an important skill and children learn to read when they are ready but reading to them gives them so much enjoyment. I send books in English out to my little two year old grandson in Japan. He loves to listen to his daddy reading from them and they help him to learn a bit of English at the same time.
Christine