We discussed the importance of reading in Dooley's blog and I thought I would share one of the blessings I got from reading. When Regina started school and straight through Sarah 5th year I went to the School every day and read to the children K- 4th grade. I can't tell you how many times I have had grown people walk up to me and say Mr. Bowlin you may not remember me but you read to me in 1st grade etc. The most fulfilling is when they say I love to read because you told us no matter we wanted to know or where we wanted to go we could do it with a book. Money can't buy that. We recently got a young progressive principal who decided that reading to the students was a waste of time so I no longer get to do it, but I will always cherish the idea that some young person has a love of reading because of my efforts.
It's great to make a difference Reggae. I'd feel the exact same way if I met a teacher that had an influence on me, I'd want to tell them how much it meant. So you must have done a great job.
How sad, Richard, that you can no longer read to the kids. You are right; there is no more important thing for a child to learn that to enjoy reading. My parents read to me. I learned to read before I can remember and still read. All of my teachers knew how important is was and made books available for me and everyone, often buying them out of their money. I can't imagine my world without books.
My father always read to us when we were kids Richard and when my own children came along I did the same. They still remember which books I read to them from and they all had a favourite which I had to read over and over again. When my young 'uns started school they could already read which I think shocked their P1 teacher - why I don't know?!! They all still love reading now. I think the 'progressive' principal is making a BIG mistake in withdrawing what is an essential 'fun while learning' part of schooling for children - time will tell.
Sharon and I read to our children before they were born and after one is a avid reader one not but they both read very well. Many of the teachers were angry with the principal over this and some other things that he decided were too old school to be of use. He also told the math teachers to stop the rote system of learning and allow them to have caculators in class. I am so glad that my younger one is not in his school any more
That is inexcusable. What's next, homework to be submitted as a Word document - no handwriting allowed
Richard, could you not find an alternative place to read. A daycare or another school. We have alternative schools here. The public schools aren't all that great. Kids learn to read in kindergarten now but it used to be in the first grade. Ask Dan about that. He staged a revolt in kindergarten because he thought he would learn to read when he went to school and all they did was play games. Andy was reading when he was just three. One of the things I objected to when he went to kindergarten was that the teacher would "assign" him to read to a group of kids while she worked with another. He wasn't there to be a "teacher helper". Finally the principal intervened and Andy went to a resource class where he was helped with other things. Dooley
