Dear Editor,
The Stabroek Rotary Club’s literacy programme for the new school year is now truly on – it was launched with the Bagotsville Community Library when the club held its annual Education Fun Day recently. Now that September has come and gone, the challenge is to keep the spirit all year through. On the day, a lot of children were taking part in fun and educational games, all geared towards helping them to gain a better appreciation for spelling and reading.
English language, like all other languages, has spelling quirks. A lot of people like to say that English spelling is hard, but I say show me a language where this is not so. We have just 26 letters, but so many different sounds. Just take the five English vowels and try forming sounds from each one.
I was told that the spelling bee and other word games really got some children going and this kind of thing can be a part of normal activities. Churches, mosques and mandirs can go this way, even as the leaders teach their lessons and communicate their doctrines.
The club in fact believes in this dual mode of learning, where “read and play” projects are indulged in. The idea is that spelling, reading and writing can all be by-products of fun and play. I believe that too, but of course only at the foundational level.
Learning via the traditional school method must not be misrepresented. At a certain stage, the fun and frolic will have to go, and serious discipline will have to take their place. In the meantime, we can do some good work and also have our fun.
Regards,
Irvin Pyle