The Burrell Boom Methodist School hosted its second annual Literacy Fair today. The annual event hopes to inspire a love of reading in children – which in the age of Youtube and Playstation consoles can be difficult. I went to see how the effort is paying off.
Jim McFadzean Reporting,
Instead of hosting busloads of adventure seeking tourists today, the village of Burrell Boom was playing host to hundreds of book-loving school children from the city and surrounding village. The Literacy Fair, the second of its kind is the brainchild of Burrell Boom Methodist Primary school’s Literacy Coordinator, Dawn Flowers, who just happens to be the Chairwoman of the Burrell Boom’s Village Council.
Dawn Flowers, Literacy Coordinator
“We were involved in a Center for Excellence in Teacher Training over the past five years and what happened is that funding for the program came to an end but we have seen the benefits of the program so we decided we needed
to do some kind of activity to us to help continue this program.”
Jim McFadzean,
“And why reading literacy, how important is it?”
Dawn Flowers,
“Because reading is important in every aspect of your life. No matter what type of job you will do, you will need to read. Without reading I strongly believe you won’t get too far without doing something illegal.”
The school’s Principal, Thomas Oliver, says the experiment seems to be catching on, and provides a useful exposure and instructive opportunity for the kids.
Thomas Oliver, Principal - Burrell Boom Methodist Primary
“We find out that without reading then the rest of their primary years at school, they will be kept back in their learning so we figure that they need to focus on reading to let them progress in the other grades. So the target was mainly for the infant children so that they can have that as a tool to get through the rest of their schooling.”
Jim McFadzean,
“Has there been a decline in the interest of primary school students in reading?”
Thomas Oliver,
“I don’t think so. Since we started this program we’ve found out that it has helped in them getting involved in literacy.”
As part of the day’s activities, several agencies set up display booths with reading materials to provide the students with alternative, but important reading materials.
Thomas Oliver,
“We would expect they would go away with the idea that in all aspects of your life, literature is important. So it is important that you read whether you are in medicine, or in the Police Department or which ever field you go in, literature is important. Learning to read is important.”
Jim McFadzean,
“And the purpose of the booth displays?”
Thomas Oliver,
“Exactly that, expose them to the different types of literature instead of it just being a story book. We have the Scouts Association having a booth, the Police Department having things about traffic and so on, HECOPAB has about the medical department and then the Library Service was also here trying to get the children to join the library and become better readers.”
Burrell Boom Methodist School has also upgraded its school grounds to include an Eco-Park.
