Page 211 - Blooms Schools Yearbook 2019

Blooms College we teach, we care

PROMOTING THE READING CULTURE

“Reading maketh the man” Shakespeare

-- Steve T. Ayu

A lot of people have observed and rightly so that the reading culture is on the decline especially
among the youths. Nowadays, people only read to pass exams and once they are done with,
reading becomes anathema. People find it much easier to sit on the telly for hours on end
changing channels but cannot read for about one hour daily. This largely has to do with
ignorance about the benefit that accrues from reading as well as a poor reading culture.

Readers are leaders. Why so? Reading gives one exposure and expands one's horizon which
makes one knowledgeable. Reading therefore improves one's intelligence better than watching
the TV because, in reading, your reasoning is active, not passive as in just watching. So
through reading, academically poor students can actually improve their intellectual ability.
Reading culture works better with habit formation. Someone had said that whatever you do
regularly/consistently for 21days already becomes/forms a habit. Since you cannot teach old
dog new tricks, it is better to catch children young.

In order to revive our reading culture, the following ways are suggested for the parents, teachers
and administrators as a way of helping to promote/boost a reading culture.

1. Parents should at early age begin to speak to their children from their mother's womb.
This includes reading to them.
2. Early after birth, start buying reading books for your children.
3. Give book presents rather than consumables or things that have less lasting value.
4. Insist your children/students read and give timelines (Sonya, Carson's mum did this.
Read Gifted Hands by Ben Carson).
5. Schools should make reading books available.
6. Encourage Reading Clubs in schools. Create incentives.
7. Parents should read for pleasure and a way to be/serve as a role model to your children.
Don't waste your time staying idle or watching the TV all the time. Be an example to your
children.
8. Habits come from repetition, therefore, find consciously find/create a platform and
encourage this.

209