Do you have fond memories of spending hours with your nose between the pages of a book? Were you fortunate enough to lose yourself in a time/place/land that wasn't the one you could see from your bedroom window? Did you make friends there? Laugh and cry with them, share their sorrows, joy and adventures?
Know what? You were lucky, as was I. I don't remember learning to read, but I know I loved reading from an early age. I used to get off the bus at the library every day from the ages of eleven to thirteen, and take out two new novels every day. I would read one of them as I walked the remaining mile or so home, then do my homework, and start to read for pleasure again.
When my daughter was very small I enrolled her in our local library. She couldn't walk, but she could stand at the large boxes of "baby" books and pull out the ones she liked the look of. I used to buy her Ladybird books, cheap and cheerful, from the age of about three months. She loved the nursery rhymes, the repetition and the rhythmic qualities.
Only the very richest families can afford to buy all the books a child needs to lay their hands on. Libraries fill the gap - new books to enjoy every day if they wish, or every week. They can change their favourite authors as often as they change their favourite food - it doesn't cost anything.
And now our government is considering closing some of these wonderful resource centres. What are they thinking of? Oh, yes, saving money - of course! In an era when so many children leave school unable to read and write competently, wouldn't it be better to spend more money to make libraries vibrant, interesting spaces where children want to visit?
If you hook a child's attention early enough, you have them for life. I life of literacy is infinitely more appealing than one bereft of the pleasures of reading. If you can read, you can learn just about anything, whether for pleasure or out of necessity. The increase in book clubs must surely be an indication that reading is still a valued pleasure.
So, if anyone asks you what you think about the idea of closing libraries, what will be your reaction?
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
where does the time go?
Where does the time go? Who steals it away in the night, never to replace it?
I'm approaching the end of my three years as a mature student at UCLAN in Preston. I am so very glad that I took my courage in both hands, phoned them up and attended two interviews to persuade the two heads of department that, at my advanced age, I was capable of returning to a learning situation.
Once my place was confirmed, I tendered my resignation from the post of Bursar in a school where I'd worked for nearly sixteen years. I began working there on my daughter's ninth birthday. The hours were perfect, not starting 'til nine thirty, which meant I could still drive her to school, and finishing at quarter past three, giving me a quarter of an hour to drive across to collect her from school at three thirty. Only two days a week initially, but soon increasing to three days a week as the dreaded computerised system entered the education office!
So, another era comes to an end. I've enjoyed telling people that I'm an undergraduate student when they've asked what I did - some people find it hard to believe that anybody would want to take early retirement to return to school!!
If you're thinking of doing it yourself - go for it - it's great fun.
I've always loved reading books of all sorts, but especially fantasy and long, involved series of books. Now I have learned to read in a manner I hated whilst at school - trying to read between the words that are printed on the page, reading what is NOT written, as well as what is.
Working through this degree course has enriched my life, and given me a great deal of satisfaction.
Had I not been attending my seminars, I would probably never have gathered the courage to send off a couple of stories to the local newspaper for publication. Then I would never have experienced that unimaginable emotion that floods through when the message comes through that a story has been accepted - and then the other one as well.
Yes - it's enriched my life, and I shall miss it. But hey, I've an exam to pass yet, and results to wait for, then the Graduation ceremony in July. It's not over yet, so I'll enjoy it for a little longer :-)
I'm approaching the end of my three years as a mature student at UCLAN in Preston. I am so very glad that I took my courage in both hands, phoned them up and attended two interviews to persuade the two heads of department that, at my advanced age, I was capable of returning to a learning situation.
Once my place was confirmed, I tendered my resignation from the post of Bursar in a school where I'd worked for nearly sixteen years. I began working there on my daughter's ninth birthday. The hours were perfect, not starting 'til nine thirty, which meant I could still drive her to school, and finishing at quarter past three, giving me a quarter of an hour to drive across to collect her from school at three thirty. Only two days a week initially, but soon increasing to three days a week as the dreaded computerised system entered the education office!
So, another era comes to an end. I've enjoyed telling people that I'm an undergraduate student when they've asked what I did - some people find it hard to believe that anybody would want to take early retirement to return to school!!
If you're thinking of doing it yourself - go for it - it's great fun.
I've always loved reading books of all sorts, but especially fantasy and long, involved series of books. Now I have learned to read in a manner I hated whilst at school - trying to read between the words that are printed on the page, reading what is NOT written, as well as what is.
Working through this degree course has enriched my life, and given me a great deal of satisfaction.
Had I not been attending my seminars, I would probably never have gathered the courage to send off a couple of stories to the local newspaper for publication. Then I would never have experienced that unimaginable emotion that floods through when the message comes through that a story has been accepted - and then the other one as well.
Yes - it's enriched my life, and I shall miss it. But hey, I've an exam to pass yet, and results to wait for, then the Graduation ceremony in July. It's not over yet, so I'll enjoy it for a little longer :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)