#BTColumn – World Book Day

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

By Wayne Campbell

“Indeed, books are vital vehicles to access, transmit and promote education, science, culture and information worldwide.”- Audrey Azoulay Director-General of UNESCO.

Name the last book you read; there is no need to worry because you are not alone. When was the last time you visited the library? Unfortunately, our libraries are no longer the reservoir where information can be garnered through the reading of a book. Instead, they have become monuments of a past era. 

World Book Day was created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 23rd April 1995 as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. World Book Day is observed in over 100 countries around the globe. The first World Book Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland took place in 1997 to encourage young people to discover the pleasure of reading. 

The theme for World Book Day 2023 is “Indigenous Languages.” The theme is focused on the native languages of a country. Successive governments have failed to ignite the passion and fan the flame of reading in society. As a result, we now have a society where books or the love of books is not a priority. It is a rare occurrence to see anyone reading in public. The public libraries which in bygone years were filled with activities regarding children borrowing books to read are merely a shadow of the golden age of reading. 

Recently, the principal of Munro College, an all male high school in St. Elizabeth, spoke about how many of the students they receive are reading below their grade levels. This is a problem, a shock given that Munro College is one of the more sought after schools in Jamaica. Interestingly, the institution also offers boarding facilities. On the other hand, those of us who work in other institutions are very much aware that a significant number of the students who enter these institutions are reading well below their grade levels; in fact, some of these students are non-readers.

The love of books has been replaced in a society which scoffs at boys who exhibit an early tendency to read. Unfortunately, such boys are labelled as nerds or homosexuals. The love of books and reading are viewed outside of the masculine domain. Boys who show the tendency for both are viewed as abnormal and often ostracized not only by their peers but by members of the wider society. 

A new trend of sorts has developed in the education system. It has become commonplace to see students with their backpacks. However, there are no books in their bags. This new phenomenon is spreading across the educational landscape. Books are no longer viewed as the source of knowledge and the means by which upward social mobility can be achieved. 

With the advent of social media and the advances made in technology, everyone is much aware of the popular phrase “chopping the line” Perhaps you are wondering about its meaning. Chop di Line (chop the line) means to scam in Jamaican patois. The scamming in question is lottery scamming, which has now become popular in modern Jamaica. 

In years gone by, schools did not have literacy coaches, yet students had a love for books and their literacy skills were fairly advanced. Now, literacy coaches have been a feature in many of our schools for a number of years, yet the literacy programmes in many of our schools leave much to be desired. It is foolhardy to think you can turn any subject teacher into a literacy specialist through a workshop for a few hours. The approach to literacy has to be meticulous and purpose driven.

Something is clearly amiss and the powers that be are being called upon to revisit how we teach literacy. It appears that the approach to literacy is too ad hoc and is in urgent need to be streamed.

Reimagining a culture of books and reading 

As a society, we do not like to read. Men, in particular, often shy away from reading. Do you remember that time in Jamaica where books were the preferred choice for fun, relaxation and gift giving? Parents and friends of the parents would readily give a child a book for their birthday or at Christmas. Well, fast forward, those days are gone and very likely will not be resurrected. 

In reimagining a culture where books are the focal point of teaching and learning, our students need to be motivated, inspired, encouraged and given incentives to help reinforce the importance of reading. Reading is fun; it relaxes not only the mind but the entire body. The love of books and reading opens your imagination and mind to live vicariously in other cultural spaces. Reading widens one’s vocabulary and facilitates a wider involvement in community outside of one’s geographical borders. There needs to be a resuscitation of reading clubs in our schools.

Given Jamaica’s education system, with an overwhelming majority of educators being females, we need to encourage more male educators to make themselves available to be trained in the specialty area of literacy and, to a lesser extent, teachers of English. Our boys need positive male role models. Boys need to see men reading in public spaces. 

More reading materials are needed in our mother tongue. We should not be made to feel less than when we read and speak in our own native language. As the international community pauses to observe World Book Day, let us redouble our collective efforts to assist those of our brothers and sisters struggling in literacy. For those of us who are able to, donate books to your alma mater and or the parish literacy. There needs to be a national effort aimed at connecting ourselves with books. 

We need to have community centres all across Jamaica where students can visit for an afternoon of reading fun under supervision, of course. More private sector support is urgently needed to assist our schools with the construction and maintenance of reading labs. Let us use social media in a positive way and have reading challenges on various platforms, such as TikTok. Read a book today and experience the change regarding how you view the world. Happy World Book Day.

In the words of Baroness Gail Rebuck, reading is fun, relevant, accessible, exciting, and has the power to transform lives.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.