CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – “READ Today, Lead Tomorrow” is the theme for the week of activities organised by the English Department of the Charlestown Secondary School on Nevis.
The activities, which end today (Jan. 23) with the final of the Junior Spelling Bee Competition, are geared at getting students to focus on what is important. This is according to Deputy Principal and Head of the English Department, Sheila Hanley, who said it means getting them to focus on the reading, writing and speaking of English.
“We value our dialect; that is good, but we want our children to be able to make the shift between the Standard English and the dialect…and, for many of them, they are having problems making that shift. They are not using the Standard English properly. ”
Hanley said that the department wants the students to be able to pick up a book, or magazine or newspaper, and to read it. She said in that way they could gain information for themselves and develop the habit of reading. She also said this is preferable, rather than them just listening to iPods and “the latest of everything that comes at them”.
The Deputy Principal said the problem with reading is not restricted to Charlestown Secondary or even the Caribbean, but is worldwide. She wants students to understand however, that reading could help them in all aspects of life.
This week’s activities included a book drive where used books were solicited from parents. Hanley said these would assist in getting the school’s library up and running.
The school also had visiting authors, including Hansel Manners, Jean Caines and Vanessa Webb, and the Deputy Principal urged others who have published to visit and encourage students so they would know that they too could write.
A film festival, featuring Akila and the Bee, was hosted on Tuesday; and a fund-raising refreshments sale was held yesterday.
Apart from the Spelling Bee Competition today, the school’s Newsletter is also scheduled to be launched. This is the third English Week hosted by the school.
