Let’s not forget to read

THANK you Fred Wesley for your Op Ed (FT13/1) “Let’s not forget to read”. You have highlighted the issue constantly raised by Prof Paul Gerahgty. The inability to read is indeed a tragedy for Fiji — because a young person’s inability to read is due entirely to adults: parents, family and teachers.

The ability to read follows upon the desire to read, which can only be achieved if reading is fun. Once reading is a chore, no child will be interested, and an uninterested child will be bored and daydream.

Children should read every day, from an early age, preferably from books that are amusing and of personal interest to the child. (Please, no books about ghosts and spooks — that is child abuse). The parent or family member should read frequently from a favourite book with large type and pictures, and engage the child in a chat about the story. Gradually, the reader can follow the words with a finger, and a little later on with the child’s finger — and it is amazing how quickly the child will learn those words: and reading will begin to be fun. Children just love to go through the same favourite story over and over again!

The child who has a basic knowledge of the alphabet sounds and some words prior to attending kindy, or preschool, has an enormous advantage. And this is where Prof Gerahgty comes in — this reading should be in the vernacular — the primary language spoken at home.

Once a basic proficiency in the vernacular is achieved, the child will become a reader, and soon another language, for many of them, will become an interesting challenge.

Once a child becomes a reader, they will have a lifelong interest — never know boredom — and acquire incidental general knowledge.

SUE CAUTY

Pacific Harbour