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Charles Dube
WE pick up our discussion from where we left last year on the importance of reading. We alluded to the fact that modern technology has overshadowed traditional trends which used to be quite helpful to learners.
Most learners prefer to spend more time listening to music from their cellphones and watching videos to reading books.
While it is true that learners can improve their composition writing from expressions, they get from the music they listen to, most have not come to understand that technique.
Even the type of music they listen to is inappropriate for class purposes as the language is vulgar, hence unsuitable. Learners should go to the basics and read suitable literature in the form of recommended novels, dramas, magazines and newspapers just to mention a few.
It is, however, unfortunate, that of late most of the books in the market are not clean of dirty language which is unsuitable for learners and any other interested readers who are against any forms of swearing language.
There are very few clean books produced nowadays as if to say when we engage in any conversation, we use swearing or vulgar language. Such a view will be projecting us in bad light as if we are an uncultured people.
This is making it difficult for people dealing with children to get suitable literature which could be rendered relatively fair. Some people can argue that there is nothing wrong with having learners being exposed to these forms of literature as they are part of society where that language is used, but, let them come across that in life than let schools legitimise that kind of language.
After all that language is not recommended for examinations. As stated last week if possible, all schools should have libraries, no matter how small they are, they will serve a purpose of encouraging reading and help learners acquire basic skills of research.
It is a fact that books are very expensive to get and schools have to weigh their options as to whether to make do without or acquire them. My suggestion is for them to start small and grow with time.
However, I am not suggesting that schools should acquire archaic books and place them in a room and call that a library. That will discourage learners as they would not benefit anything from very old books.
Their idea of the library will be very negative and they will take that to other schools or other levels of learning and grow up sneering at anything called a library.
The earlier learners are introduced to the library the better. They grow up having the basic knowledge of all the expectations of a library.
Well informed learners on the use of a library quickly develop good study habits and take proper care of books. When learners get into a library, they should make sure that they get to know the resources the library has to offer or how to find them.
Learners who just rush into the library without following proper procedures are dangerous to that resource.
Some of the necessary steps in the proper use of a (school) library are very difficult to implement because of large numbers being catered for, for example, learners need to be taught proper handling of books if they are to last ages.
Most learners mishandle books hence a high rate of torn books. Most libraries have reference areas which might include encyclopaedias, dictionaries, almanacs, yearbooks, atlases, and other reference materials.
Books in this area can be used only in the library. By not allowing people to check out these books, the library ensures that all reference materials will always be available for anyone who needs to consult them.
Talking about using libraries, there is a sad development which goes on at the same time, that of stealing books and going on to vandalise them. Books are vandalised through tearing off pages thus rendering them useless to the next user.
There are many learners who specialise in this practice. Some steal books from one school library to the other. Once books are moved from one school to the other it becomes very difficult to recover them.
Stiff penalties should be given to those who steal other learners’ books for their selfish ends. Those who lose books pay fines or replace them yet the culprits go scot-free.
The offenders should spare a thought for the harm they do to those they victimise by stealing from them. Learners should be responsible and help others than make others suffer. Learners out there who are into this habit should desist from this bad behaviour now.
In the same vein all learners who are in the habit of stealing other learners’ uniforms especially from Form Ones at boarding schools should stop it. This kind of behaviour is barbaric and should die.
Having enjoyed your reading from a variety of genres, you become a better writer. Try the following exercise suggested from one text. Stories and films in the spy genre share some key elements.
These are what make them a spy story. Look at the different ingredients below. Which of these ingredients do you think a good spy story: Must have? Could have? Should not have?
Secrets, codes, disguises, deception, computers, fighting, bugs, hacking, lies, gadgets, car chases, humour, surveillance, shopping, tension, double agents, binoculars, villains, romance, danger, a wedding, a happy ending, exotic settings.
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